Iga Swiatek stunned tennis fans worldwide with a decisive victory at Wimbledon on July 12, 2025, claiming her first title at the All England Club in just 57 minutes. Despite the Polish star’s dominant performance over America’s Amanda Anisimova, a former coach of Coco Gauff openly questioned the legitimacy of Swiatek’s achievement, igniting considerable controversy. This incident has sparked a heated debate involving multiple voices from the tennis community, including Swiatek’s team and sports experts.
Brad Gilbert Questions the Difficulty of Swiatek’s Wimbledon Victory
Brad Gilbert, who coached Coco Gauff from August 2023 to September 2024, offered a controversial perspective on Swiatek’s Wimbledon win via the social media platform X. He highlighted a statistic that Swiatek had not faced any top 10 player throughout the tournament. Gilbert tweeted,
“crazy Iga Pop tourney stat, the highest ranked player she has played this @Wimbledon Samsonova at 19 AA is ranked 12, not sure when last time someone won a slam without facing a top 10 player @tennistweetscom @SharkoTennis,”
casting doubt on the quality of her opponents.
Gilbert went further by expressing sympathy for Anisimova, who was defeated with a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) in the final, writing,
“That’s a very sad day for tennis on center court @Wimbledon. Got to feel for AA. Last time that happened 1988 @rolandgarros, final was like 35 mins Graf vs Zverev.”
His remarks suggested that the final lacked competitiveness, which sparked a backlash from fans and professionals alike.
Errors in the Criticism Highlighted by Tennis Experts
Gilbert’s initial statement was factually inaccurate, as similar instances have occurred in recent years. For instance, British player Emma Raducanu won the US Open four years prior without facing any top 10 opponent, with Belinda Bencic being the highest-ranked adversary she encountered. This undermined Gilbert’s claim that Swiatek’s victory was less credible.
Polish sports expert Andrzej Person, writing for Polsat Sport, sharply criticized the comments without naming Gilbert directly. He condemned the disparagement of Swiatek, emphasizing,
“We’ve reached a time where losers can slander great stars with impunity. The idea that Iga had an easy bracket is nonsense.”
Person reinforced his argument by pointing out that Anisimova, Swiatek’s final opponent, had eliminated a high-profile player, Sabalenka, earlier in the tournament. He added,
“Firstly, it wasn’t easy, and secondly, Anisimova, whom she defeated in the final, knocked Sabalenka out. (…) Why spoil the celebration when this is an extraordinary success, one of the greatest in the history of Polish sports?”
Responses From Swiatek’s Team Defend Her Achievement
Maciej Ryszczuk, Iga Swiatek’s physiotherapist, also reacted strongly to Gilbert’s remarks, condemning them as unfair and uninformed. He stated,
“so low that even you can feel the bottom”
and urged him to “do your research better.” Ryszczuk’s remarks underscored the disappointment within Swiatek’s camp regarding the undermining of her performance.
In response to the criticism and growing backlash, Gilbert attempted to lighten the mood on social media, posting,
“Everyone take a freaking chill pill, it’s Twitter oouch on sensitivity.”
However, this did little to quell the debate surrounding his comments.
Swiatek Reflects on Her Historic Wimbledon Win
Despite the controversy, Swiatek herself has remained humble and reflective about her landmark achievement. After accepting the Venus Rosewater Dish, the six-time Grand Slam champion admitted her victory felt surreal. She remarked,
“Being Wimbledon champion sounds amazing and pretty surreal. I’m appreciating every minute. I’m proud of myself because who would have expected that?”
Her words capture the sense of disbelief and pride at reaching a major milestone in her career.
Before this season, Swiatek’s best result at Wimbledon was reaching the quarterfinals. Her recent triumph has changed those perceptions dramatically, marking her as the first woman since Monica Seles in 1992 to win her first six major finals. The Polish star now looks ahead to the upcoming US Open, aiming to maintain her winning momentum at Flushing Meadows.
The Impact of the Controversy and Future Prospects
The criticism from Brad Gilbert has stirred a wider discussion about the pressures faced by rising tennis champions like Swiatek and Gauff, as well as the scrutiny new stars endure on the biggest stages. Swiatek’s commanding Wimbledon performance stands as a testament to her skill and determination, despite questions over the tournament draw’s difficulty.
With strong support from her team and Polish media figures such as Andrzej Person, Swiatek’s victory is increasingly recognized as one of the most significant accomplishments in recent tennis history. The discussion highlights the challenges athletes face beyond the court, particularly when dealing with critiques from high-profile figures within the sport.
As the tennis world moves towards the US Open, attention will be on whether Swiatek can sustain her exceptional form and silence all doubts about her consistency. Meanwhile, the debate ignited by Gilbert’s comments serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics between player performance, media analysis, and public perception in professional sports.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Coco Gauff have a degree?
A. Congratulations on finishing high school, @CocoGauff! Gauff earned her diploma from the Florida Department of Education after studying at Florida Virtual Flex. While launching a successful professional tennis career, the 18-year-old balanced school and sports for the past four years.
Q. Is Coco Gauff the highest paid tennis player?
A. Coco Gauff, a tennis player, earns $30.4 million. Eileen Gu, who skis, makes $22 million. Iga Swiatek, also in tennis, earns $21.4 million.
Q. Is Coco Gauff a millionaire?
A. Based on Celebrity Net Worth, Coco has won over $24.3 million in prize money during her career. This puts her among the top 20 earners in the Women’s Tennis Association history. In 2024, she reportedly earned about $9.35 million from prize money alone.