The machines are calling the lines for the first time this summer. But when Iga Swiatek played Danielle Collins on Centre Court, bringing together two of the sport’s most intriguing and contrasting personalities, it was an illustration of how Wimbledon is still as human as ever.
You see, nothing exposes your character quite like playing tennis on this rectangle of lawn (though there was also a very revealing moment in Swiatek’s on-court interview when she spoke of her love for pasta with strawberries and yoghurt).
This was a third round match to discover what would happen when one of the most cerebral of tennis players faced one of the most combative athletes around, an American nicknamed ‘Danimal’, on the grass.
Add into the psychological mix all the vulnerability surrounding the seeds in the ladies’ singles this summer – so many have already lost early – and how Swiatek has had less success at the All England Club than at the other Grand Slams, and this could have got very awkward for the Pole.
Swiatek’s 6-2, 6-3 victory told you as much about her character as it did about her game and a growing appreciation for grass.
“I was in the zone,” Swiatek said, her mind not once wandering to the thought of whether she might be eating her strawberry pasta dish for dinner that evening. “I knew I had to be brave. I tried to play fast because you can’t let Danielle play her winners.”
It’s true that the former world No.1 has been watching Desperate Housewives between matches. But don’t let that undermine Swiatek's image as an introspective woman with an over-active mind who travels with her own psychologist, has had her own online book club and likes doing crosswords.
In her own self-analysis, she is “an intense person” and that’s why she uses every moment to “chill out off the court”. Contrast that with Collins, a bolder and more confrontational character who will blow kisses at spectators who are bothering her, as she did at this year’s Australian Open.
More and more in practice, if not always in matches, the ball has been listening to Swiatek on the grass this summer. She has been firm with her instructions: land on the lines as much as you can, please.
“It is much more fun this year,” Swiatek said. “I had practices where the ball was listening to me. Today was a good day and it is a new experience feeling good on this surface.”
If Swiatek can keep playing like this, in her next match against Denmark’s Clara Tauson and then possibly beyond, this Fortnight could get very interesting for her.
Four of Swiatek’s five Grand Slams were at Roland-Garros, while she has also won the US Open once and has played in two semi-finals at the Australian Open, but for now her best result at Wimbledon was reaching the quarter-finals in 2023.
Perhaps there’s a little less attention on the Pole this summer than in previous years. That’s because she had been in the habit of coming to London as the Roland-Garros champion, which got people wondering whether she could take that form from Parisian clay to English grass.
But this year she lost in the semi-finals in France and the focus has often been elsewhere. Something else has been different this summer as her preparations for The Championships took her to Germany, where she reached a first tour-level final on grass.
Only three women this century have reached the third round at 22 consecutive Grand Slams. They are Serena Wiliams, Amelie Mauresmo and Swiatek. The other two have lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish. Will this be the summer when Swiatek joins them?
This had to be Iga's best career match on grass. She finally looked comfortable and confident. Used her foot speed and her forehand so well.
Was patient in the rallies and didn't try to over hit, just waited for the right shot.
Served well too, all of that basically inhibited Collins game and didn't allow her to play her way thus putting more pressure on her serve and shots (which she missed quite a few of).
It was honestly tactically brilliant. The sort of tactics many fans have been waiting to see from Iga for years.
It was a real joy to watch her play today.
And it gets better Iga no longer has to play Elena Rybakina because Clara Tauson pulled off a huge upset.
Granted Tauson won't be a walk in the park especially if she serves well, but Iga can really use her movement skills and shots again more so than she would have been allowed to against Rybakina.
The stars are aligning just a little.
But we take it one point and one match at a time.
Jazda!.
Side note I think the best thing about today (aside from Iga convincingly beating Collins) was the on court interview, and the stir she caused when she told the Brits she eats pasta with strawberries.
Pretty sure that broke social media :D.
For those not familiar pasta with strawberries is a bit of Polish tradition a staple really eaten by all Polish kids in their childhood (and for many well beyond).
It is absolutely delicious!.
Now Iga's introduced it to the entire world ( though many probably think we're crazy, mostly the Italians :D).
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