LONDON (AP) – Iga Swiatek showed her exceptional skills on the grass courts once again, delivering a stellar performance to secure her spot in the Wimbledon final. She defeated Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 on Centre Court, setting up a clash with Amanda Anisimova for the championship on Saturday. The victor will continue the trend of first-time women’s champions at Wimbledon, with the last seven winners being newcomers to the title.
Reflecting on her unexpected journey to the final, Swiatek expressed her excitement and pride after the swift victory over Bencic. Despite her past success on clay and hard courts, Wimbledon had been a challenge for her, with only one prior quarterfinal appearance. The Polish player, who has claimed five Grand Slam titles and held the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings for a significant period, acknowledged the new experience of excelling on grass.
Swiatek’s recent breakthrough on grass was foreshadowed by her first grass court final at Bad Homburg, where she fell to Jessica Pegula before heading to Wimbledon. Over the past year, she faced a doping case but returned stronger, now poised to end her title drought and add to her Grand Slam collection which includes four French Open titles and one U.S. Open title.
Swiatek will face Anisimova in the final, a player with a fierce game on fast surfaces. While acknowledging her opponent’s strengths, Swiatek remains focused on her own game and aims to capitalize on her improved movement and confident serving to secure the win.
As she prepares for the final, Swiatek finds motivation in her pre-match playlist featuring iconic rock bands. With her grass game clicking, she is determined to continue her winning streak and claim another prestigious title at Wimbledon.
