Reigning women's singles champion Iga Swiatek has vowed to steal more towels as she returns to Wimbledon for the 2026 Championships. The Polish star, who thrashed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the 2025 final, earned the nickname 'Wimbledon towel thief' after being caught stuffing towels into her bag during last year's tournament.
Swiatek Plans to Continue Towel Collection
Ahead of her first-round meeting with Taylor Townsend, Swiatek joked that she has no intention of slowing down the behaviour that made headlines. 'Let's start with the fact that I don't have any towels left from last year,' she said. 'My friends want it, my family want it. I gave it to some charity because the thing became viral obviously. So I guess I should steal even more. Yeah, I will continue that because that's the best kind of souvenir you can get from a tournament.'
When asked about a new limited-edition red towel introduced at this year's Championships, Swiatek smiled and said: 'I'll ask for it anyway.'
Defending Her Title
Swiatek admitted she found the scrutiny over the towel incidents 'a bit humiliating' last year but defended her actions. 'When I look back in 30 years, Wimbledon is going to be the best venue you can get, and I just like them, you know,' she added. 'The Wimbledon towels are of the best quality after you wash them. I use them daily in Warsaw, so I can recommend them.'
On the court, Swiatek said it was 'exciting' to return as defending champion. However, no player has successfully defended the women's singles title since Serena Williams in 2017. Williams, now 44, returns to SW19 for the first time since 2022 and could face Swiatek in the third round if both avoid early exits.
Reflecting on the difficulty of repeating, Swiatek said: 'I think there were players that won this tournament that already have won many tournaments and Grand Slams. Why particularly it's hard to repeat that, I have no idea. I can't answer that question. Sorry.'
Staying Present
Discussing her title defence, Swiatek added: 'I feel proud of what happened last year. My dream came true kind of. Not even a dream because I didn't dream that because I thought it was impossible. It feels great. On the other hand, I'm here because of the next tournament. I need to also stay present.'
