Wimbledon: First-time finalist Swiatek thought grass-court success would never come

After world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a dramatic defeat to Amanda Anisimova in the first semi-final, Swiatek found things far easier against the unseeded Bencic.

She needed just over 80 minutes to triumph 6-2 6-0 in baking heat on Centre Court.

Only Billie Jean King (versus Rosie Casals in 1969) and Venus Williams (versus Dinara Safina in 2009) have dropped fewer games in a women's singles semi-final at Wimbledon in the Open Era (both one) than Swiatek did against Bencic.

At the age of 24, Swiatek is the youngest woman to reach a grand slam final on all three surfaces since Justine Henin in 2003, while she is the only active player on the WTA Tour to do so.

Prior to last month's Bad Homburg Open, Swiatek had never reached a grass-court final at any level, with Jessica Pegula defeating her in the showpiece match at that event.

And Swiatek had never gone beyond the last eight at the All England Club until this year, leading her to doubt whether she would ever get a shot at the trophy.

"I never even dreamed that it would be possible for me to play in the final," Swiatek said in her on-court interview.

26 - Among those achieving the feat this Century, only three players have reached the final on all three surfaces in Women’s Singles Grand Slam events in fewer main draw appearances than Iga Swiatek (26). Speedy.#Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @WTA pic.twitter.com/kVlJVLLNa4

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 10, 2025

"I'm super excited and proud of myself and tennis keeps surprising me.

"I thought I'd lived everything and experienced everything. I didn't experience playing well on grass. That's the first time, and I really enjoyed it. I'm so excited.

"Every point is different, every match I have to adjust my game. I'm serving really well, and I feel really confident, and it's working, so I'll keep doing that."

Swiatek has never faced Anisimova – a first-time grand slam finalist – at WTA-Tour level, and she expects the big-hitting American to provide a stern test.

"I don't think I played Amanda in WTA, we played in juniors. She can play amazing tennis, she has a tough game and is fast," Swiatek said.