‘Have to be pretty cold’: Tennis world rallies around fallen star after historic Wimbledon collapse

Iga Swiatek demolished Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the most one-sided women’s Wimbledon final for 114 years to win her sixth Grand Slam title.

The Polish eighth seed was in charge from the first point and wrapped up victory in just 57 minutes in a brutal display of precision hitting on Centre Court.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

It is the first time a woman has won a final at Wimbledon without dropping a game since 1911, when Britain’s Dorothea Lambert Chambers triumphed by the same scoreline.

And Swiatek, 24, is just the second player in the Open era to win a major without losing a game in the final since Steffi Graf humbled Natalia Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.

“It seems super surreal,” said Swiatek, who is the first Wimbledon singles champion from Poland and has now won majors on all surfaces.

“I didn’t even dream, for me it was way too far. I feel like I am already an experienced player after winning the Slams before but I never expected this one.

“This year I really, really enjoyed it and feel I improved my form here. “I am always going to remember the opening of champagne bottles between serves. It is a sound that will keep me awake at night.” Swiatek lost just one set during the entire tournament as she won her first trophy on grass, two weeks after reaching the final of the grass-court event at Bad Homburg.

Anisimova's emotional tribute to mum | 01:14

US 13th seed Anisimova was expected to prove a stern test after ousting world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, but Swiatek performed a demolition job.

Anisimova made a nervous start in hot conditions on Centre Court, with Catherine, Princess of Wales, watching from the Royal Box.

She was broken in the first game, soon slipping 2-0 behind and the signs looked ominous.

The American appeared to have found her feet in her next service game but the merciless Swiatek refused to give ground and recovered to move 3-0 ahead when Anisimova double-faulted.

READ MORE

Wimbledon stunned by 114-year first as 54-min slaughter seals star’s all-time greatness

‘Hope they leave me alone’: A legacy cemented, Wimbledon winner returns fire at critics

US player Amanda Anisimova reacts as she plays against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Source: AFP

At 4-0 down Anisimova was facing a first-set wipe-out but she was powerless to halt the rampant Swiatek, who sealed the opener 6-0 in just 25 minutes.

The American won just six points on her serve in the first set and committed 14 unforced errors.

An increasingly desperate Anisimova could not stem the tide in the second set, double-faulting again in the third game to give her opponent game point and then netting a backhand.

The crowd got behind her but to no avail as Swiatek kept up her level, serving out to win and celebrating before consoling her devastated opponent.

Anisimova made 28 unforced errors in the 12 games.

The lopside affiar generated plenty of reaction in the tennis world with plenty of support for Anisimova.

“So much to be proud of Amanda,” compatriot Coco Gauff tweeted. “Keep your head up.”

“Anyone who goes on social media to trash Amanda needs to really check themselves,’ Aussie tennis great Rennae Stubbs added.

“This is a kid that just made her first major final and deservedly so. She’s also someone who’s overcome a lot, including losing her father when she was a teenager. She is a lovely kid, so chill.”

“You’d have to be pretty cold not to feel for Amanda Anisimova,” added tennis commentator Craig Gabriel.

“Amanda Anisimova crushed her speech in the most beautiful, serene way, and I’ll never forget it,” wrote tennis journo Chris Oddo.

“That was truly poignant, and I have so much respect for how she pulled it together and created an incredible moment for herself, her family and tennis on Centre Court.”

“This has been far more about Swiatek being great than Anisimova being awful,” opined tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg. “But either way, it’s lopsided and ... an all-time beat down.”

Click here to read article