Iga Swiatek has reached the Wimbledon final after a resounding display against Belinda Bencic.
The Polish five-time Grand Slam winner recorded one of the best grass court performances of her career to beat the Swiss player, 6-2 6-0.
Swiatek’s run to the final has been quite remarkable considering she made the first grass court final of her professional career at the Bad Homburg Open in June.
However, the Pole has experienced previous success on grass. Swiatek won the Wimbledon Girls’ Singles title in 2018.
Despite Swiatek’s victory on Thursday evening, British Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong has pinpointed a question mark concerning the Pole’s game ahead of her match up against Amanda Anisimova on Saturday.
‘The question is how she manages all those different emotions’
Speaking to the BBC on Thursday evening after Swiatek’s dominant victory, Keothavong said: “Maybe there is something to be said that the grass is firmer, because there has been so much sun, so maybe that has allowed her to play the kind of tennis that she has done.
“I also think it’s down to the preparation and the mindset and the confidence she came with after reaching her first grass court final a couple of weeks ago, before the start of the championships in Germany.
“Things have come together. Now, after a performance like that in the semi-finals I will be wondering how she approaches the final. She is the favourite going into this final. She is the higher ranked player.
“The way we have seen the two players, Anisimova and Swiatek compete in their semi-finals, Swiatek has been the most efficient.
“Hardly any court time in comparison to Anisimova, so that comes with pressure and expectation as well. The question is how she manages all those different emotions”
Iga Swiatek joins the greats of tennis after beating Belinda Bencic
Following Iga Swiatek’s victory over Bencic, the Pole joined a very well-renowned list of female tennis players, the pantheon of women’s tennis.
As per OptaAce, Swiatek now holds the 10th highest winning percentage in Women’s Singles Grand Slam events in the Open Era. Her record stands at 99 wins to 20 losses, a percentage of 83.2.
The victory saw the four-time French Open champion pass former world number one Evonne Goolagong, who owns a percentage of 83.1.
Swiatek’s triumph sees her face maiden Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final. The Pole will have to use all her Grand Slam final experience to conquer the red-hot American, who shocked world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her semi-final match.
