LONDON (AP) – For years, Iga Swiatek struggled to find her footing on the grass courts of Wimbledon, unable to envision herself hoisting a trophy at the prestigious tournament. However, the Polish player proved her doubts unfounded with a stunning display of tennis that culminated in a remarkable 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova on Saturday. This victory marked the first women's final at Wimbledon in 114 years where one player did not win a single game.
Swiatek, now a two-time Grand Slam champion at age 24, described her experience as “super surreal.” The match against Anisimova, a 23-year-old American in her first Grand Slam final, took place under sunny skies at the historic Centre Court and lasted just 57 minutes. It was an unprecedented achievement for Swiatek, as she joined an elite group of champions.
Anisimova, seeded 13th, admitted to feeling overwhelmed by nerves. She mentioned that fatigue from the previous weeks may have affected her performance, revealing that she skipped practice the day before due to exhaustion. Furthermore, she experienced pain in her right shoulder while warming up before the match. Anisimova reflected on her feelings post-match, saying, “It was a bit tough to digest, obviously, especially during and right after. I was a little bit in shock.”
The final's atmosphere was heightened by the presence of Kate, the Princess of Wales, who was sitting in the Royal Box to present the trophies. Swiatek dominated the match from the start, winning 55 of the 79 points played. She was able to secure her victory with only ten winners; Anisimova, on the other hand, struggled significantly, managing only 33% of her first serves in the opening set and finishing with a staggering 28 unforced errors. Swiatek’s power and precision placed strong pressure on her opponent; she delivered serves clocking in at up to 121 mph and maintained a first-serve percentage of 78%, winning 16 of 20 points in longer rallies.
Interestingly, Swiatek had come into the tournament as the eighth seed after being a top-ranked player for most of 2022, 2023, and into 2024. She had never advanced past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon as a professional, though she had previously won the junior championship in 2018. Anisimova, a once top-rated junior player who achieved semifinal status at the French Open at age 17 in 2019, had seen her career interrupted by personal tragedies, including the passing of her father shortly after her semifinal run. She expressed gratitude for her mother’s presence during the final, thanking her for breaking the superstition of flying to watch matches.
During the trophy presentation, Swiatek couldn’t hold back her emotions, acknowledging that she never imagined this moment could come true for her at Wimbledon. “Honestly, I didn’t even dream of this because for me, it was just way too far,” she stated. In contrast, Anisimova, still processing her defeat, expressed a desire to deliver a better performance for the audience, highlighting the challenging nature of high-stakes matches.
Swiatek's win at Wimbledon not only added to her collection of Grand Slam titles, which already included four trophies from the French Open and one from the U.S. Open, but also marked her first-ever title on grass. This remarkable achievement came on the heels of a long wait since she last claimed a trophy at Roland-Garros in June 2024. With this victory, she became the eighth consecutive first-time women’s champion at Wimbledon, standing out for the sheer dominance of her performance.
As Anisimova adjusts to her new ranking within the top 10 following this match, she looks to recover from the defeat and rebuild her confidence on the tour. Swiatek, embracing her victory, showcased the resilience and determination that define her career and set the stage for future competitions on the tennis circuit.
