Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has revealed she plans a quiet return to the All England Club after her stunning Wimbledon victory this summer, a win she describes as the most surprising and rewarding of her career.
A Historic Victory at SW19
The 24-year-old claimed her first Wimbledon title and sixth Grand Slam overall in July, delivering a devastating 6-0, 6-0 victory against American Amanda Anisimova. This marked the first women's final double bagel at Wimbledon since 1911, cementing Swiatek's place in tennis history.
Despite struggling earlier in the season on her favoured clay surface, Swiatek's grass-court transformation proved complete. 'Any season that has a Wimbledon win, I would take without hesitation,' she stated. 'I'm super proud of this achievement. This is something I wasn't expecting to happen this year.'
Controversy and Mental Strength
The comprehensive nature of her final victory sparked unexpected post-match discussions, with journalists questioning whether she should have allowed Anisimova to win a single game. Swiatek expressed bafflement at these suggestions.
'I wasn't really thinking about how it looks, I was just playing, and I didn't want to give any points for free,' she explained. 'It's a Wimbledon final, I wanted to win it really bad.'
She emphasised the mental aspect of tennis, noting both players experienced significant pressure. 'Everybody was talking about Amanda being stressed or something, but I was also stressed as hell; playing the final of Wimbledon on Centre Court is a surreal experience.'
Looking Ahead to 2026 and the Australian Open
Following a season where she played 80 matches - the most on the WTA Tour - Swiatek plans to reduce her tournament commitments in 2026. 'I would like to try missing maybe two tournaments,' she revealed, aiming to create more time for technical improvement.
Her focus now shifts to Melbourne, where victory would complete the career Grand Slam, a feat achieved by only ten women in history. With Aryna Sabalenka maintaining the world number one position and increased competition throughout the top ten, Swiatek acknowledges the challenge ahead.
'There is a lot of stuff I learned this year that I started doing, but couldn't really mix it well with how I've been playing for the past seasons,' she said, outlining her strategy with coach Wim Fissette to combine new skills with her established game.
As honorary membership to the All England Club grants her future access, Swiatek looks forward to experiencing Wimbledon's hallowed grounds in peace, following in the footsteps of champions like Roger Federer, though she jokes she'll 'need to get ready' with the proper identification.
