Iga Swiatek's dominant victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final has been the talk of the tennis world. The Polish player, seeded eighth, secured her sixth Grand Slam title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory, a scoreline not seen in a Wimbledon women's final in 114 years. For Anisimova, it was a crushing defeat in her first Grand Slam final.
The match lasted just under an hour, with Swiatek displaying relentless dominance. The American, Anisimova, seeded 13th, appeared overwhelmed by the occasion, struggling with her serve and committing numerous unforced errors. Swiatek, in contrast, seemed to be in complete control, improving her record to 6-0 in major finals.
Despite the tough loss, Anisimova handled the defeat with grace. Recognizing the sting of the defeat, former world number one Rafael Nadal reached out to Anisimova with a message of support on X, "Be proud, @AnisimovaAmanda! Grand Slam finalist!".
Nadal, who retired from professional tennis in late 2024, knows the emotional rollercoaster of the sport. During a 2012 interview, Nadal emphasized the importance of accepting both winning and losing with composure, a philosophy he has seemingly carried throughout his career. He highlighted the constant cycle of tournaments in tennis, stating that dwelling too much on victories or defeats can be detrimental, as a new challenge is always on the horizon.
Anisimova's journey to the final was marked by a stunning semi-final victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Despite the loss to Swiatek, Anisimova's performance at Wimbledon is expected to propel her into the top 10 of the WTA rankings.
Speaking after the final, Anisimova acknowledged the role of fatigue in her defeat and expressed her determination to learn from the experience. She emphasized her intention to focus on physical conditioning and continue working towards her goals. "When I got back to the locker room, I kind of had that switch in my mind of, 'You know what, this is probably going to make you stronger in the end," Anisimova said.
Swiatek's victory marks her first Wimbledon title and her sixth Grand Slam overall. She is also the first Polish player to win the Wimbledon singles title in the Open Era. This win signifies a comeback for Swiatek, who had a disappointing loss to Sabalenka in the French Open semifinals and was knocked out by Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg final.
The Wimbledon final was a historic event, with Swiatek joining Steffi Graf as the only players in the Open Era to win a major final without losing a game. While the defeat was undoubtedly a difficult moment for Anisimova, the support from figures like Nadal and her own resilience suggest that she has the potential to bounce back and achieve further success in her career. Anisimova's run to the Wimbledon final, including her victory over Sabalenka, demonstrates her talent and potential. Despite the lopsided scoreline, her first Grand Slam final appearance is a significant achievement.