Iga Swiatek, the world’s No. 2 ranked tennis player and five-time Grand Slam champion, has firmly quashed swirling speculation about her participation in the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. The 23-year-old Polish star, fresh off a commanding semifinal run at the 2025 Australian Open, addressed the rumour mill with her characteristic candour during a press conference ahead of the Italian Open in Rome. Fans and pundits alike had been abuzz with claims that Swiatek might skip the grass-court major or take an extended mid-season break, but she set the record straight with a blend of humour and resolve, reaffirming her commitment to competing at the All England Club.
The rumours, which gained traction online in recent days, suggested that Swiatek, known for her clay-court dominance, was contemplating bypassing Wimbledon due to her historically modest results on grass. Her best showing at the tournament remains a quarterfinal finish in 2023, and her 2024 campaign ended in a surprising third-round defeat to Yulia Putintseva. The speculation was further fuelled by her decision to skip grass-court tune-up events last year, citing mental and physical exhaustion after her fourth French Open triumph. “During the past few days, I saw a million comments that were not true,” Swiatek said with a smile, dismissing the chatter. “You shouldn’t believe those kinds of things. There are so many theories about me that are false.”
Swiatek’s grass-court journey has been a work in progress, despite her stellar 88.2% win rate on clay and a formidable 48-7 record on hard courts over the past year. As a junior, she claimed the 2018 Wimbledon girls’ singles title, proving her potential on the surface, but the senior level has posed challenges. “I feel like every year it’s easier for me to adapt to grass,” she noted after her 2024 French Open victory, hinting at her growing comfort. Her 2023 quarterfinal run, where she pushed Belinda Bencic to the brink before falling, marked a significant step forward. Yet, the quick transition from clay to grass, coupled with the intense physical demands of her Roland Garros campaigns, has often left her “undercooked” for Wimbledon, as she admitted last year.
The 2025 season has already been a rollercoaster for Swiatek. After losing her No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka in November 2024, she roared back with a dominant performance at the Australian Open, only to fall to Coco Gauff in the semifinals. Her rivalry with Gauff, now 11-3 in her favour, and her 0-6 head-to-head against Jelena Ostapenko, highlight the competitive fire she brings to every match. Off the court, Swiatek has faced scrutiny, from criticism of her low-worn cap to debates about her playing style. “Ever since I’ve started my journey with sports, I’ve heard other people’s expectations on how I should play, how I look, how I should behave,” she said in 2024, showcasing her ability to tune out noise and focus on her goals.
Swiatek’s dismissal of the Wimbledon rumours underscores her mental fortitude and strategic planning. “I’m not considering skipping Wimbledon,” she confirmed, putting an end to the conjecture. Instead, she’s eyeing a balanced approach to the grass season, potentially including warm-up events to hone her movement and serve—key weapons on the faster surface. Her team, led by new coach Wim Fissette, is focused on ensuring she peaks at the right moments, with Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics, where she’ll return to her beloved clay, as dual priorities. As Swiatek prepares for Rome, her fans can rest assured: the “Duchess of Dirt” is ready to chase glory on grass, undeterred by rumours and determined to add a Wimbledon crown to her glittering resume.
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