Ex-ATP Pro Compares Iga Swiatek to Steffi Graf After ‘Ruthless’ Performance in Wimbledon Final

Iga Swiatek lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the first time in her career by beating America's Amanda Anisimova.

Ex-ATP Pro Compares Iga Swiatek to Steffi Graf After ‘Ruthless’ Performance in Wimbledon Final

Iga Swiatek, Steffi Graf (Image via X/Out of Context Iga Swiatek, The Tennis Letter)

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Iga Swiatek lifted a title in a tournament where perhaps no one had thought she would achieve success this year, more so because she struggled a lot at the start of the season. In the Wimbledon final, the Pole handed a double bagel to Amanda Anisimova, becoming the first Polish player to win the grass-court Major.

Her 6-0, 6-0 victory also made her only the second woman, after Steffi Graf, to register a double bagel in a Grand Slam final. The German retired tennis player achieved this against Natasha Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.

While analyzing Swiatek’s Wimbledon final, former player Todd Woodbridge, during The Tennis podcast on the Australian Open’s YouTube channel, compared the six-time Grand Slam champion to the 22-time Grand Slam singles champion.

She was relentless. It was Graf-like. It was so ironic that she would lose in Paris and get the time to play a lead in a tournament and prepare better for her, with a little less pressure than usual as well. She was not the number one player in the world.

It was the 24-year-old’s first title this year. She was expected to end her title drought on the clay swing, but there too, she failed to progress to a final, including at the French Open, where she aimed to win the title for the fifth time.

In the final, she showed the experience she showed from the very first point. She was ruthless and very deserving overall.

Todd Woodbridge added

Before winning Wimbledon, Swiatek played the final at the Bad Homburg Open- her first final since her Roland Garros victory last year. It was also Swiatek’s first final on grass. She lost the match to 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula. Her Wimbledon title helped the former World No.1 remove Pegula from the third spot on the rankings table.

Rennae Stubbs compares Iga Swiatek’s personality to Steffi Graf’s

While Todd Woodbridge compared Iga Swiatek‘s game to that of Steffi Graf, Rennae Stubbs thinks the youngster’s personality is also similar to that of the 107-time singles titles winner. According to Serena Williams‘ former coach, Swiatek just likes to keep going, keep improving her game, and doesn’t take anything for granted.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (via Wimbledon)

She’s the most similar person and personality, not playing style obviously, but just personality, as Steffi Graf.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Swiatek will next be focusing on the North American hard-court swing. She will kick-start her campaign at the Canadian Open, which starts on July 27. Last year, she had skipped the tournament.

Swiatek played two tournaments on the American continent last year- the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. In Cincinnati, her campaign was ended by eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka, while at Flushing Meadows, Swiatek lost in the third round to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Now that she has won Wimbledon, she will be a heavy favorite at the US Open, where she emerged victorious in 2022. Swiatek now only needs the Australian Open to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Iga Swiatek scripted history by lifting the Wimbledon trophy

Swiatek’s Wimbledon win made her the youngest woman to win Majors on all surfaces since Williams (in 2002). She is the only active player on the WTA tour to win Majors on all surfaces.

Iga Swiatek (2)
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

Her sixth Grand Slam title helped her break the tie with Maria Sharapova, the winner of five Majors. She has also won at least one Major in a year for four consecutive seasons.

Swiatek, the first Polish player to win Wimbledon, has also improved her win-loss record in Grand Slam finals to 6-0. Her win over Amanda Anisimova was her 100th career Grand Slam match victory.

Also read: Andrey Rublev Shares More Startling Revelation About Alexander Zverev’s Mental Health