In a display of sheer dominance, Iga Swiatek obliterated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the 2025 Wimbledon women’s singles final, securing her first title at the All England Club and her sixth Grand Slam crown. The 24-year-old Pole’s relentless performance on Centre Court not only marked a career milestone but also reignited a firestorm of debate among tennis fans, particularly those of Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. The controversy stems from comments Sabalenka made after her French Open final loss to Gauff earlier in June, where she suggested Swiatek would have defeated Gauff had she reached the Roland Garros final. Swiatek’s emphatic Wimbledon victory has fans revisiting those remarks, with some calling them prophetic and others labeling them “shady,” sparking a heated online clash.
## A Masterclass on Grass
Swiatek, long a clay-court maestro with four French Open titles, had never advanced beyond the Wimbledon quarterfinals before this year. Her 2025 campaign, however, showcased a newfound mastery on grass. Facing Anisimova, a 23-year-old American who had stunned top seed Sabalenka in the semifinals, Swiatek delivered a performance of surgical precision. She dropped just 19 games across her last four matches, culminating in a 54-minute rout that left Anisimova reeling. “Honestly, I never even dreamt it was going to be possible for me to play in the final, so I’m super excited and just proud of myself,” Swiatek said post-match, her voice tinged with disbelief. Her victory marked her as the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to win Wimbledon, reinforcing her return to the top echelons of the WTA rankings after a challenging season.
## The French Open Flashpoint
The roots of the fan feud trace back to the French Open final on June 7, 2025, where Gauff outlasted Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to claim her second Grand Slam title. Sabalenka, visibly frustrated, committed 70 unforced errors and later told reporters, “If Iga [Swiatek] had beaten me the other day, I think she would have gone out today and gotten the win.” The comment, perceived as dismissive of Gauff’s victory, drew sharp criticism. Fans labeled Sabalenka a “sore loser,” with one X user stating, “This is so disrespectful. Sabalenka cries like a toddler every time she loses and blames it on conditions.” Gauff responded with poise, saying, “I don’t agree with that. I’m here sitting here [as champion]. Last time I played [Swiatek], I won in straight sets. I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen.” She referenced her 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Swiatek at the Madrid Open earlier in 2025, underscoring her confidence.
Sabalenka later apologized, both privately to Gauff and publicly via Instagram, writing, “Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned.” The pair even filmed a TikTok dance together at Wimbledon to signal reconciliation, with Gauff noting, “We’re good, we are friends. I hope the U.S. media can be easy on me right now.” Yet, Swiatek’s Wimbledon masterclass reignited the debate, with Sabalenka’s fans claiming vindication. “This is what Sabalenka was talking about at the Roland Garros press conference, but everyone made it about Coco when it wasn’t,” one supporter wrote on X, arguing Sabalenka was highlighting Swiatek’s mental fortitude in finals, not slighting Gauff.
## Fan Frenzy and Double Standards
The online spat escalated as fans dissected Swiatek’s mental toughness. One X user marveled, “Iga really the only player on tour that doesn’t get nervous in big finals, unbelievable mental toughness.” Sabalenka’s supporters echoed this, pointing to her French Open comments as evidence of Swiatek’s clutch performance under pressure. However, Gauff’s fans countered that Sabalenka’s remarks were “shady” and disrespectful, with one writing, “So disappointing from Sabalenka. No mistake was made, she just got outplayed.” Some Swiatek fans felt their star was unfairly dragged into the drama, with a humorous post declaring, “YOU KNOW YOU THAT BITCH WHEN YOU CAUSE ALL THIS CONVERSATION,” despite her semifinal exit at Roland Garros.
The controversy also highlighted perceived double standards. When Sabalenka took a six-minute bathroom break during a Wimbledon match, some fans noted it went largely unnoticed, while Swiatek’s past breaks had drawn scrutiny. “Sabalenka’s 6-minute toilet break after losing a set, but no one is talking about it, different standards always for some players,” one X user complained. This added fuel to the argument that Sabalenka’s comments were unfairly magnified compared to similar incidents involving other players.
## A Rivalry Rekindled
The fan-driven debate underscores the growing rivalry between Gauff and Sabalenka, who have faced off in two Grand Slam finals, with Gauff holding a 6-5 head-to-head edge. Tennis legend Pam Shriver called it a “rivalry that really gets your attention,” noting, “When they’re both playing at their best, matches get decided by hairline cracks in their game.” As Swiatek basks in her Wimbledon glory, the focus shifts to whether Gauff and Sabalenka can challenge her dominance at the upcoming US Open, where their mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, respectively, adds another layer of intrigue. For now, Swiatek’s triumph has not only cemented her legacy but also fanned the flames of a passionate tennis discourse.
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