On a day when Wimbledon`s hallowed Centre Court hosted the Ladies` Singles Final, Iga Swiatek delivered a performance that defied expectations – perhaps even her own. The Polish star defeated Amanda Anisimova with a scoreline rarely seen at this stage: a commanding 6-0, 6-0. This wasn`t just a victory; it was a historical punctuation mark, the first “double bagel” in a Wimbledon women`s final since 1911, and the first in a Grand Slam final for the women`s game in the Open Era since Steffi Graf`s dominant display in 1988.
For Swiatek, this Wimbledon triumph marks a significant evolution in her game. Widely regarded as the queen of clay with four Roland Garros titles, grass has historically been her least comfortable surface. Yet, over these two weeks in London, she appeared entirely at home, culminating in a final where she dropped not a single game across 57 minutes. Her journey included losing just 35 games throughout the entire tournament, including a mere two in the semi-finals and final combined.
“It`s something that is just surreal,” Swiatek commented post-match, reflecting on the unexpected dominance. “I feel like tennis keeps surprising me, and I keep surprising myself.” She emphasized the hard work put into adapting to grass and the satisfaction of proving to herself she could succeed here, differentiating it from her more expected victories on clay. Her approach in the final, she explained, was to focus and simply “do my job,” aiming to enjoy the rare feeling of playing so well on grass.
On the other side of the net was Amanda Anisimova, who had navigated a challenging path back to a Grand Slam final after stepping away from the sport in 2023 to focus on her mental health. Her semi-final victory over the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showcased her significant talent and fighting spirit. However, the immense pressure of her first Grand Slam final on Centre Court proved overwhelming. Anisimova openly admitted to being “frozen by nerves,” leading to an uncharacteristic number of unforced errors (28) and struggles with her serve.
“It`s not how I would have wanted my first Grand Slam final to go,” she stated with frank honesty. Despite the painful result, she expressed determination to use the experience as motivation. Referencing a quote about pain burning up and redeeming you, Anisimova emphasized choosing the path of growth and improvement. “I`ll definitely come out stronger after this,” she affirmed, framing the tough loss as a vital lesson on tennis`s biggest stage.
The final served as a stark illustration of mental fortitude under pressure. While Swiatek demonstrated a newfound mastery of the grass surface, adding a historic Wimbledon title to her growing collection and cementing her status as a multi-surface threat, Anisimova`s difficult day underscores the brutal mental challenge of Grand Slam finals. Yet, her journey back and her commitment to learning from this experience suggest this painful loss might ultimately be a springboard for future success.
