London: On one side of the net was Iga Swiatek, disbelief plastered across her face, as she lay on her back on Centre Court. Down the other end was Amanda Anisimova, having finished on the wrong side of a 6-0, 6-0 score line, making her way slowly across the lawn to congratulate her opponent.It was tragedy and triumph in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.As Swiatek, the only active player to reach the final on all three surfaces in women’s Grand Slam events, rushed up the stands to celebrate with her team, particularly her new coach Wim Fissette, and family, the spectators were on their feet, applauding a flawless performance.The Pole, who has won four Roland Garros titles, and a win in New York, has struggled on the grass, but more than the grass the eighth seed has raged against a run that saw her go without a title for more than a year. This win then was as much a tennis take-away as it was a victory over the situation she had found herself in.
“I didn’t even dream about winning (this title) because it was way too far,” said Swiatek, holding the Venus Rosewater Dish she received from Catherine, the Princess of Wales. “I feel like I’m an experienced player, winning Slams before, but I never really expected this one… I’d never won this title, I was anxious about that (in previous years), but this year, I really really enjoyed it and felt so comfortable. I’m going to enjoy this moment.”Swiatek, the first Polish player to win the Wimbledon title in the Open Era, took home $4.09 million.It was only in 1911 that a final here was decided by such a heavy margin.Anisimova, who left the court to compose herself, returned with tears flowing down her face.The Pole and the American, who played for the first time in the pros on Saturday, however faced off in the juniors. “You are an incredible player, such an inspiration to me, an incredible athlete,” Anisimova told the champion.The 23-year-old, who played in the qualifying rounds here last year, applauded her mother Olga, who flew in just for the final. “She’s put in more work than I have, honestly,” Anisimova said of her mother through her tears.Earlier, there was a moan that went through the stands when Anisimova double-faulted on her first breakpoint in the third game of the opening set, some 15 minutes into the match.The American, who was trailing 0-2, had ample opportunity to get herself on the scoreboard. The crowd then tried to get into the match with calls of ‘come on, Amanda’, ‘let’s go, Amanda,’ urging the American on.This was always a difficult match-up for Anisimova, who benefitted hugely in the semifinal against the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s strategy. The Belarusian played at one pace, going flat out throughout the match and Anisimova was overjoyed to get into a shoot-out.Swiatek, who uses the court imaginatively, made Anisimova play and given her condition nerves and low energy it was a master tactic by Swiatek, who used her forehand effectively.
