Roughly a year ago, Iga Świątek relinquished her position as the world’s top-ranked female tennis player. Now, she celebrates a Wimbledon victory.
Displaying the prowess of a champion, the No. 8 seed achieved a decisive triumph over No. 13 Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, securing a 6-0, 6-0 win on Saturday.
The contest concluded in just over an hour, with Świątek maintaining a flawless record without dropping a single set. According to the Associated Press, this marked the first Wimbledon women’s final in 114 years where one player failed to win a single game.
Competing in her inaugural Grand Slam final, Anisimova appeared overwhelmed by the occasion. Świątek seized an immediate advantage by breaking Anisimova’s serve, establishing a 1-0 lead. For Świątek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, this scenario was familiar territory, despite it being her first Wimbledon final.
Adding to Świątek’s already dominant performance, Anisimova compounded her challenges by committing numerous unforced errors. She struggled with her first serves and lacked precision in her backhand shots.
Anisimova’s body language and facial expressions conveyed a sense of frustration as the match rapidly slipped beyond her grasp. The decisive loss in the first set seemed to drain her energy, leaving her with little hope of recovery.
Amanda Anisimova struggled to maintain her composure, her disappointment evident as she quickly fell behind Iga Świątek, never recovering in the Wimbledon women’s final. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
(Adam Davy – PA Images via Getty Images)
Whether fueled by support for an underdog or a desire for a more competitive match, the crowd’s encouragement for Anisimova grew louder in the second set. This may have helped Anisimova regain some composure, but Świątek maintained her relentless offensive. Anisimova faced an insurmountable deficit and could not establish a foothold to mount a comeback.
Świątek secured her sixth Grand Slam title, adding the Wimbledon championship to her collection of four French Open titles and a U.S. Open trophy.
“I hadn’t even contemplated this; it felt beyond my reach,” Świątek expressed during her on-court interview. “Despite my previous Slam victories, I feel like an experienced player, but I never anticipated this particular achievement.”
“I acknowledge that I wasn’t at my best today, but I’ll continue to dedicate myself to improvement,” Anisimova stated in her post-match interview. “I maintain my belief in myself, and I hope to return here in the future.”
Despite the immediate disappointment, Anisimova’s advancement to her first Grand Slam final and her victory over the No. 1 seed, Aryna Sabalenka, represent significant progress. However, she appeared to have exhausted her resources by the time the final arrived.
As of Monday, Anisimova will ascend to No. 7 in the upcoming WTA women’s rankings, a rise from her previous position of No. 12. Świątek will be ranked No. 3.
Here’s a recap of the surprisingly swift Wimbledon women’s singles final:
