It seems crazy, but Iga Swiatek hasn’t won a title in 2025. Can she defy expectations by winning her first at Wimbledon?
Despite being a world No.1 for 125 weeks (the 7th longest of all time on the WTA Tour), Swiatek is going under the radar at SW19.
On Monday, despite a rough start, the Pole advanced against an ailing Clara Tauson with
a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
“Even though the beginning was pretty shaky with the double-faults, I managed to play well and solid,” Swiatek said. “I’m not sure if Clara felt well, she said at night she was sick.”
Swiatek, known for her foot speed, spin and craftiness, rather surprisingly, has the best service games won percentage for the tournament – 90 per cent. Two of her four total breaks came in this match, both right at the start, but the five-time Grand Slam champion recovered quickly on No.1 Court.
"It’s never easy to keep your focus," she said. "I also thought when I wasn’t feeling well that I just let go of everything, which sometimes gives you a boost. I tried to be ready for anything.’
Tauson is that kind of opponent. Even when not feeling her best, she can rip winners and go for broke. But the dangerous Dane lost her edge as the match went on and Swiatek raced to victory 6-4 6-1.
Perhaps it was the swiftness of the second set which shocked Swiatek, who had to correct herself afterwards when talking to Annabel Croft.
She said: "It’s pretty amazing, you know, it’s the first time I’ve really enjoyed London."
Then she realised what she’d said.
Quickly trying to recover from the statement, she countered with a grin: "I mean, sorry guys, I always enjoyed it, but we’re tennis players so we kind of feel well off the court when we feel good on the court. This year for sure I feel that I can just play my game. Hopefully it will last as long as possible."
Attention certainly has been elsewhere in the ladies’ singles draw, but that will change now that she’s one of eight remaining.
Swiatek is also a girls' singles champion here, having won the 2018 event, and recently reached the WTA Bad Homburg final in Germany – her first WTA Tour title on grass and the first final since she won Roland-Garros in 2024.
The 24-year-old has so far lost just one set at The Championships with wins over Polina Kudermetova, Caty McNally, Danielle Collins and now Tauson.
Next up is another big hitter in Liudmila Samsonova. Swiatek was diplomatic when asked about their head-to-head record, which she leads 4-0: "She’s a really solid player – from both sides. We’ve played many matches, we’ve played three setters as well."
Their first encounter did go the distance, but since then it’s been relatively straightforward in favour of Swiatek, but they haven’t played on grass, yet.
"I know she can play well on fast surfaces. I’ll prepare tactically. I haven’t watched any matches so I’ll trust my coach," she added.
Swiatek is back into the quarter-finals here, matching her best result from two years ago – and given that she’s returning well and serving even better, she’ll feel like she’s in ‘Pole’ position to reach the last four for the first time.
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