Iga Swiatek will face Amanda Anisimova in her first Wimbledon final on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in her career on grass courts. Her strong performance at the All England Club, including a straight-sets victory over Belinda Bencic, has drawn praise from former Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick, who compared her rise on grass to Pete Sampras’ dominance.
Andy Roddick Draws Parallels Between Swiatek and Sampras’ Growth on Grass
During an appearance on the ‘Served’ podcast, Andy Roddick reflected on Swiatek’s mental toughness and progress on grass. He noted that despite visible pressure, Swiatek remains undefeated in Grand Slam finals, setting her apart in mental resilience.
Roddick shared,
“Guys, she has never lost a Grand Slam final. So it’s like some people get celebrated for being mentally tough, and I don’t know. People thought I was a fighter, but I was not undefeated in Grand Slam finals! I would love to be as mentally up and down as Iga Swiatek. I will tell you that right now.”
Highlighting her consistent improvement, he compared her year-to-year progress to that of Pete Sampras, recalling Sampras’ struggle with grass courts early in his career.
“He hated grass from 1990 to 92, and then from 93 it was like this tournament is going to be mine many, many, many times. But whatever it is, it’s working. She is playing great,”
Roddick added.
Swiatek’s Past Challenges on Wimbledon’s Grass Surface
Before this breakthrough, Swiatek had made deep runs in every Grand Slam except Wimbledon. She captured four French Open titles, a US Open victory, and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open twice, yet her best Wimbledon result remained the quarterfinals, achieved just once in 2023.
Last year, Swiatek exited early in the third round after entering the tournament without recent grass-court experience. This year’s improvement is notable following her appearance at the Bad Homburg Open, where she reached the final, indicating growing confidence on grass.
The Potential Impact of Swiatek’s Wimbledon Final Appearance
Swiatek’s Wimbledon success not only enhances her reputation as the only active player to reach Grand Slam finals on all three surfaces but also positions her as the youngest woman to do so since Justine Henin in 2003. Her performance on Centre Court this weekend could further solidify her status among tennis elites and inspire greater adaptability in players transitioning between surfaces.
As she contends for her first Wimbledon title, Swiatek’s progress signals a promising evolution in her game and mental approach, echoing the transformative journeys of past champions like Sampras. Her victory could mark a lasting legacy at the All England Club and add a new chapter to Poland’s tennis history.