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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Iga Swiatek: From queen of clay to Wimbledon champion
Swiatek thrashed American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win the sixth Grand Slam title of her career in historic fashion on Saturday. Against the Polish eighth seed's own expectations, she has added Wimbledon to the four French Open titles she won on the Paris clay and the 2022 US Open crown secured on hard courts in New York. Swiatek won the junior Wimbledon title seven years ago, but she had never been beyond the quarter-finals in the main event until this year. Asked if her success had come as a surprise, she said: "Yeah, for sure. Honestly I never even dreamt it was going to be possible for me to play in the final. "I thought I experienced everything on the court but I didn't experience playing well on grass." The Wimbledon title was especially sweet for Swiatek after what had been a difficult year by her high standards. Having won at least one Grand Slam in each of the previous three years, Swiatek endured painful semi-finals exits at the Australian Open and French Open in 2025. She did not reach a final for a year after winning the 2024 French Open. Losing in the Olympics semi-finals last year was another blow for Swiatek, who said she cried for "six hours" following the defeat in Paris. Then in November 2024, Swiatek tested positive for banned substance trimetazidine and was given a one-month suspension after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the result was caused by contamination. Blaze of glory Her two-year reign as world number one had been ended by Aryna Sabalenka, prompting a change of coach at the end of last year as Wim Fissette replaced Tomasz Wiktorowski. Those woes were a stark contrast to the blaze of glory that followed her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open. Aged 19 and ranked 54th, Swiatek defeated Sofia Kenin in the final to become the first Polish player to win a major singles title. Swiatek, whose father is a former rower who competed at the 1988 Olympics, was the youngest French Open women's champion since Monica Seles in 1992. Three more titles followed at Roland Garros between 2022 and 2024 before Sabalenka ended her unbeaten streak in Paris last month. But not winning the French Open for the first time since 2021 gave Swiatek more time to prepare on grass, firstly in a training camp in Mallorca before a maiden final on the surface in the tranquil German spa town of Bad Homburg. Although Jessica Pegula took home the trophy in Germany, Swiatek had laid the foundations for her success at SW19. "I feel like I have developed as a player and I had time to practise a little bit more," she said. "I'm not going to have seasons where the pressure is kind of forced on me from the expectations from outside anymore. "Every year it's kind of the same, but I feel sometimes I can handle it better or ignore it." Swiatek dropped just one set on her run to glory on the manicured lawns of southwest London. Her performance in the Centre Court sunshine on Saturday was one for the ages as she became the first player in the Open era to win a Wimbledon final without dropping a game. © 2025 AFP
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Wimbledon glory beyond a dream for Swiatek
The Pole raced through the most one-sided women's Wimbledon final in the Open era in under an hour on court to claim her first ever title on grass. "It seems super surreal," said Swiatek, who already has four French Open titles and the 2022 US Open to her name. "I didn't even dream (of winning Wimbledon) because for me it was just like way too far," she added having never previously been beyond the quarter-finals at SW19. "I feel like I'm already an experienced player after winning the Slams before, but I never really expected this one... this is like the best thing that a player can have." There was a stark contrast in emotions on Centre Court as Anisimova broke down in tears several times as she addressed the spectators and her family. "You guys have carried me through this entire championship and it's been an incredible fortnight for me even though I ran out of gas a bit today," the world number 12 said after reaching her first Grand Slam final. "I wish that I could put on a better performance for all of you."
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Milan wins baking Tour de France mass sprint as French denied again
On a day for pure sprinters and with no change at the top of the overall rankings, Lidl-Trek's Milan was the first Italian to win a stage on the Tour since Vincenzo Nibali in the Alps in 2019. Milan, 24, took over the top of the sprint points rankings and had been wearing the green tunic in place of Tadej Pogacar, who had earned the sprint and the overall leader's yellow jersey by winning stage seven. "It means a lot for me and also my country," Milan said. "I was placed in a perfect position to take this victory. "And I'll try and win again tomorrow," he said of Sunday's flat stage also billed as one for the sprinters. Pogacar retained the overall lead with Remco Evenepoel and Kevin Vauquelin rounding out the top three, with no change in the top 10 as the peloton kept its powder dry. "It's nice to have a day like this," said 2020, 2021 and 2024 Tour winner Pogacar. "It was a bit more relaxed and not necessary to push too hard in the sun all day. "Especially as Monday is a brutal stage," the Slovenian added of the eight classified climbs and many more besides in a stage loaded with opportunities on France's national holiday in the Massif Central. Pogacar, 26, also spoke of his teammate Joao Almeida who was hurt in a late fall Friday. "It was good to see Joao finish the stage okay," he said. "As I said, Monday is a brutal stage but nobody is expecting Joao to kill himself for a bike race," said Pogacar. A day after complaining of the heat and fatigue Pogacar also refused to be drawn on his participation at the Vuelta a Espana, the third and final Grand Tour of the season. "I have to think about if I want to spend another month away from home," he said. French hopes dashed again Best young rider and Olympic champion Evenepoel hit a top speed of over 82kph (51mph). "It was a nervy finale and I just wanted to stay up front in case of a fall," said Evenepoel "It was a shame for Tim (Merlier, his team's sprinter) but he punctured in the run in," the 25-year-old Belgian added. The remaining 177 riders from the original 184 rolled through the Brittany countryside with the harvest ongoing a month early and colossal crowds on the roadside. Under clear blue skies and 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) heat there was little inspiration in the peloton to breakaway until late in the day. French duo Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher attacked from 70km and the pair were only reeled in on the edge of finish town Laval after enthusiastic support on this Tour, which is based entirely on French soil but with no home winner yet. The pair were awarded jointly the day's combativity award for their efforts. The French Groupama-FDJ team is based in this region but their sprinter Paul Penhoet punctured 7km from home and failed to get back into the action in time for the finale. Stage nine on Sunday heads south from Chinon to Chateauroux and is another flat affair with the focus on keeping hydrated in the heat and staying in the saddle. © 2025 AFP
