The 2025 Wimbledon women’s final was a spectacle of dominance, as Iga Swiatek delivered a historic 6-0, 6-0 rout of Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes, claiming her first Wimbledon title and sixth Grand Slam. The match, a rare double bagel—the first in a Wimbledon women’s final since 1911—left the tennis world in awe and Anisimova reeling. Amid the chatter, Nick Kyrgios, the outspoken Australian and 2022 Wimbledon finalist, sparked a storm of discussion with his provocative commentary during a TNT Sports watchalong. Suggesting he would “completely tank” the first set if he were in Anisimova’s shoes, Kyrgios offered a glimpse into his unconventional approach, igniting debate about strategy, sportsmanship, and the mental toll of facing an unstoppable force like Swiatek.
Swiatek’s performance was nothing short of a masterclass. The 24-year-old Pole, previously known for her clay-court supremacy with four French Open titles and a 2022 US Open crown, had struggled on grass, never advancing past the Wimbledon quarterfinals until this year. After a challenging 2025, marked by a doping controversy and a semifinal exit at Roland Garros, Swiatek transformed her game through intensive grass-court training in Mallorca and Germany. She arrived at SW19 as the No. 8 seed, dropping just one set en route to the final against opponents like Veronika Kudermetova, Caty McNally, and Belinda Bencic. Against Anisimova, she was relentless, landing 80% of her first serves and committing only two unforced errors in the first set, compared to Anisimova’s 14. “I’m just proud of myself because … who would have expected that?” Swiatek said, reflecting on her surreal triumph.
Anisimova, a 23-year-old American in her first Grand Slam final, was visibly overwhelmed. Having stunned World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal, she entered the final as a rising star, set to break into the top 10 at a career-high No. 7. But nerves and fatigue took hold—she skipped practice the day before and struggled during warm-ups, later admitting, “I was a bit frozen with my nerves.” Her serve faltered, with only 33% of first serves landing and five double faults, and she won just 24 points to Swiatek’s 55. “It’s not how I would have wanted my first Grand Slam final to go,” Anisimova said, fighting tears in her on-court interview. Yet, she remained resilient, adding, “I told myself, I’ll definitely come out stronger after this.”
Kyrgios, joined by Coco Vandeweghe and Dan Evans on the TNT Sports broadcast, watched as Swiatek surged to a 4-0 lead in the first set. “I know it sounds crazy, but, in a moment like this, I would just completely tank this set… I would throw this set away,” he declared, suggesting that conceding the set could disrupt Swiatek’s rhythm and preserve energy for a second-set comeback. As the scoreline worsened to 5-0, he doubled down, saying, “If I was the coach, I would tell Amanda not to even hit a ball this game. Just walk side to side.” Kyrgios, no stranger to gamesmanship, admitted to using similar tactics in his career, notably during his 2022 Wimbledon run against Brandon Nakashima, where he conserved energy in a losing set to regroup. Vandeweghe, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, slyly noted she’d employed similar strategies, highlighting the tactic’s place in tennis’s psychological chess game.
The suggestion sparked polarized reactions. Some fans and analysts praised Kyrgios’s out-of-the-box thinking, noting that Anisimova’s 28 unforced errors and inability to find rhythm might have warranted an unconventional approach. Others, however, called it unsportsmanlike, arguing it disrespected the game and the Centre Court stage. One X user fumed, “Is Iga Swiatek to be blamed that other players lost early? F**king stupid,” defending Swiatek’s dominance. Despite the controversy, Kyrgios showed empathy for Anisimova, posting on X, “Amanda!!! Slam finalist!!! Head up 🙏🏽❤️,” and emphasizing her remarkable journey from a No. 189 ranking and qualifying loss in 2024 to a Wimbledon final. “Where she was a year ago, losing in qualifying and then making a Wimbledon final. That’s pretty insane in itself,” he said on air.
The tennis community rallied around Anisimova, whose run included victories over Sabalenka, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Linda Noskova. Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, posted,47 “So much to be proud of Amanda ❤️❤️❤️ keep your head up 👑,” while Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, urged fans to respect Anisimova’s resilience after overcoming her father’s death and a 2023 mental health break. Tracy Austin, commentating for the BBC, expressed heartbreak, noting, “She had to be so proud — it was the moment of her life. And then 50-something minutes later…”
Swiatek’s victory, celebrated by figures like Billie Jean King and Courteney Cox, marked her as the youngest woman since Serena Williams to win Grand Slams on all three surfaces. Kyrgios even predicted she’s now a frontrunner for the US Open, saying, “Maybe she has the confidence to find that dominance at the top of the women’s sport.” For Anisimova, the loss was a brutal lesson, but her grace and determination signal a bright future. As she reflected, “I’ve been in difficult situations before in my career, and I feel like I’ve learned so much from those moments.”
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