The 2025 Wimbledon Championships delivered a historic moment as Iga Swiatek, the Polish tennis phenom, claimed her first-ever Venus Rosewater Dish with a breathtaking 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the women’s final. The match, a rare “double bagel” not seen in a Grand Slam final since Steffi Graf’s 1988 French Open triumph, showcased Swiatek’s relentless precision and marked her sixth Grand Slam title. However, the celebration of this milestone was overshadowed by a storm of controversy ignited by Brad Gilbert, the former coach of American star Coco Gauff, whose pointed social media comments about Swiatek’s victory drew sharp criticism from her team and fans alike.
Swiatek’s performance on July 12, 2025, was nothing short of extraordinary. The 24-year-old, seeded eighth, dismantled Anisimova in just 57 minutes, allowing her opponent only 24 points while forcing 28 unforced errors. This commanding display cemented her as the first woman since Graf to win a Grand Slam final without conceding a single game, and the first at Wimbledon since 1911. For Swiatek, who had struggled on grass courts in the past and endured a challenging season with no titles since her 2023 French Open victory, this win was a triumphant turnaround. Her emotional celebration—collapsing to the ground before embracing her coach, family, and even actress Courteney Cox courtside—reflected the weight of this achievement.
Yet, as Swiatek soaked in her moment of glory, Brad Gilbert took to social media to cast a shadow over her success. “Crazy, Iga Pop tourney stat, the highest ranked player she has played this @Wimbledon [Liudmila] Samsonova at 19. AA is ranked 12, not sure when last time someone won a slam without facing a top 10 player,” he posted shortly after the final. He followed with another comment, lamenting, “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.” These remarks, which questioned the legitimacy of Swiatek’s victory by highlighting the absence of top-10 opponents in her draw, sparked immediate backlash.
Swiatek’s physiotherapist and strength coach, Maciej Ryszczuk, fired back with a scathing response on social media: “So low that even you can feel the bottom. Do your research better. Winning ugly doesn’t mean commenting ugly.” Ryszczuk later elaborated to Polish media, calling Gilbert’s comments “unacceptable” for someone of his stature, a renowned coach who guided Gauff to her 2023 US Open title. “All you need to do is do a little research and look back at other tournaments to see that this isn’t the first time a tournament has been structured this way,” he said, pointing out that upsets, like Gauff’s first-round loss to Dayana Yastremska, shaped the draw. “I’d be more concerned with why top players were eliminated, whether it was due to fatigue or because other players simply played better.”
The tennis community echoed Ryszczuk’s sentiments, with fans rallying to Swiatek’s defense. One supporter questioned Gilbert’s motives, writing, “Why are you belittling Iga Swiatek’s success right after her Wimbledon triumph? Is that appropriate for a renowned coach who trained her rival?” Another pointed out that Ashleigh Barty had won three Grand Slams without facing top-10 players, challenging the notion that Swiatek’s run was an anomaly. The criticism highlighted the unfairness of blaming Swiatek for a draw she couldn’t control, especially given her dominant performance against formidable opponents like Samsonova and Belinda Bencic en route to the final.
Gilbert, who coached Gauff from August 2023 to September 2024, remained unapologetic. Responding to the backlash, he wrote, “Everyone take a freaking chill pill, it’s Twitter ouch on sensitivity,” doubling down on his stance. His comments stung all the more given Gauff’s own early exit from Wimbledon, where the No. 2 seed and French Open champion fell 7-6(3), 6-1 to Yastremska. Gauff, gracious despite her loss, took to social media to congratulate Swiatek, writing, “congratulations @iga_swiatek on an incredible run!” while also consoling Anisimova: “so much to be proud of Amanda keep your head up.”
Swiatek’s victory was a testament to her resilience. After a season marked by setbacks, including a tearful loss to Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg Open final, she transformed her grass-court game, becoming the youngest woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces. Her perfect 6-0 record in Grand Slam finals underscores her dominance, yet Gilbert’s remarks threatened to dim her moment. As the tennis world continues to buzz, Swiatek remains focused on her historic achievement, her legacy as one of the sport’s greats growing stronger with each swing of her racket.
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