Polish tennis sensation Iga Swiatek has opened up about her remarkable Wimbledon victory and ambitious plans for the 2026 season in an exclusive interview following her historic triumph at the All England Club.
The Wimbledon Breakthrough
In a stunning display of dominance during July's championships, the 24-year-old claimed her first Wimbledon title and sixth grand slam overall with a devastating 6-0, 6-0 victory over American Amanda Anisimova. This marked the first women's final double bagel since 1911, cementing Swiatek's place in tennis history.
Despite struggling earlier in the season on her preferred clay surface, Swiatek described the Wimbledon win as the undoubted highlight of her year. 'Any season that has a Wimbledon win, I would take without hesitation,' she revealed. 'I'm super proud of this achievement. This is something I wasn't expecting to happen this year.'
Addressing the Final Fallout
The comprehensive nature of her victory sparked unexpected post-match discussions, with some journalists questioning whether she should have allowed Anisimova to win a single game. Swiatek expressed bewilderment at these suggestions, firmly stating her competitive mindset during the final.
'I wasn't really thinking about how it looks, I was just playing, and I didn't want to give any points for free,' Swiatek explained. 'It's a Wimbledon final, I wanted to win it really bad.'
She emphasised the mental aspect of tennis, noting that while commentators focused on Anisimova's stress, she too felt immense pressure. 'I was also stressed as hell; playing the final of Wimbledon on Centre Court is a surreal experience,' she admitted.
Planning for Future Success
Following a season where she played 80 matches - the most on the WTA Tour - Swiatek is planning strategic changes for 2026. The world number two intends to reduce her tournament commitments to focus on technical improvement.
'I would like to try missing maybe two tournaments - maybe the ones I feel I haven't been playing well at anyway - just spending this time on grinding and getting the technique better,' she revealed.
This approach, she believes, will enhance her performance under pressure and provide better preparation for major events. Her sights are firmly set on the Australian Open, the only grand slam missing from her collection.
Swiatek acknowledged the increasing competitiveness at the top of women's tennis, with Aryna Sabalenka maintaining the world number one position and the top ten becoming more congested. She and coach Wim Fissette have developed a comprehensive plan to maintain her elite status.
'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,' Swiatek explained. 'My goal overall will be to combine that with good balance.'
As an honorary member of the All England Club, Swiatek plans to return to Wimbledon outside of tournament time, following in the footsteps of champions like Roger Federer, though she joked about ensuring she brings proper identification to avoid access issues.
