Defending Champion Iga Swiatek Aiming to Break Wimbledon Curse: “Why Is It So Difficult to Repeat Here?”

Iga Swiatek has a huge task at her hands at Wimbledon because she will be playing as the defending champion. She will be aiming to do something that Serena Williams did back in 2016.

Williams, who has received the wild card for singles and will be competing in this category for the first time since the 2022 US Open, defended her crown at SW19 in 2016. And since then, no WTA player has won back-to-back titles in the tournament.

Since then, eight different players have clinched the trophy. They are: Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Ashleigh Barty, Elena Rybakina, Marketa Vondrousova, Barbora Krejcikova, and Swiatek.

It’s a difficult question. I have no idea. Every player’s story is different. It’s hard to say why. Surely, coming back as the defending champion poses a different challenge due to everything surrounding the tournament. There have been players who had already won many tournaments and Grand Slams before conquering Wimbledon. Why is it so difficult to repeat here? Honestly, I don’t know. I can’t answer that question.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

Swiatek could face the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion if they both reach the third round. Williams will also be competing in doubles alongside her sister, Venus Williams.

In last year’s Wimbledon final, Swiatek double-bageled Amanda Anisimova, becoming just the second woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam final with a 6-0, 6-0 scoreline. The first player to do so was Stefi Graf at the 1988 French Open.

Iga Swiatek on her run at the Bad Homburg Open

Iga Swiatek rediscovered her form at the Bad Homburg Open last year because she had not reached a final before that tournament. It was her career’s first final on grass, and she lost the title to Jessica Pegula.

Swiatek, however, suffered an opening-round exit in this year’s Bad Homburg event. Emma Navarro clinched a three-set win. In the pre-tournament press conference, Swiatek said that even though she had a great season on grass last year, she doesn’t always feel comfortable on the surface.

I think people talk about it a lot more here. Also, everything related to becoming a club member is something you don’t experience at any other tournament. Perhaps that’s why it feels different.

The main draw of Wimbledon starts on June 29. This season, Swiatek has played just one semifinal (at the Italian Open). Apart from the Bad Homburg Open, the Pole also suffered an opening-round exit at the Miami Open.

This year, for example, Bad Homburg didn’t give me the rhythm I found last season. I feel like I’m starting from a completely different situation, and I’m trying to keep my expectations low. Everyone talks about me being the defending champion, but I know I need to play matches again, and nothing will be easy just because of what happened last year. I prefer to value that experience, enjoy it, and feel proud of having lived it.

Iga Swiatek added

The last time the six-time Grand Slam champion lifted a title was at the 2025 Korea Open. Apart from Wimbledon and the Korea Open, the 25-year-old also clinched a title at the Cincinnati Open last year.

Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion, failed to reach a final on clay this year. Last year, as well, it was no different. The last time she reached a final on this surface was at the 2024 Roland Garros, where she defeated Jasmine Paolini to complete a hat-trick of the clay-court Major.

This year, Swiatek has won a title, but it’s not in a singles tournament. Back in January, she clinched the United Cup title with Poland.

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