Iga Świątek’s Wimbledon triumph has sparked debate across tennis circles. While critics question the strength of her draw, legendary coach Rick Macci stepped forward to defend the Polish star’s historic achievement at the All England Club.
Why Are Critics Questioning Iga Świątek’s Wimbledon Victory?
Świątek, the former World No. 1 and now a six-time Grand Slam champion, finally conquered the lawns of Wimbledon in 2025. As the eighth seed, she stormed through the draw, defeating Polina Kudermetova, Caty McNally, Danielle Collins, 23rd seed Clara Tauson, 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova, and Belinda Bencic to reach her maiden final at SW19.
The Polish tennis star then capped off her run by blanking No. 13 seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final. The so-called “double bagel” is a rare feat in a Slam final and showed the level of tennis Świątek brought to SW19 in 2025.
However, for some in the tennis community, one glaring detail stood out: she didn’t face a single top-10 opponent en route to the title.
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Macci wasn’t having any of it. In a post on X, the renowned coach fired back at the critics with sincere praise for Świątek’s performance. “People say Iga did not beat a top 10 player to win W, they are correct,” Macci wrote.
“She did not beat them, she punished them. Also the Polish Punisher was SO connected mind and body BUT she does not have the connections to make the draw.”
People say Iga did not Beat a top 10 player to win W they are correct. She did not beat them she Punished them. Also the Polish Punisher was SO Connected mind and body BUT she does not have the Connections to make the draw. @igaswiatek
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) July 14, 2025
The controversy started a few days earlier when Brad Gilbert, former coach to Coco Gauff, suggested that Świątek’s path to the Wimbledon crown lacked the kind of top-tier resistance typically expected of a champion. His remarks were widely interpreted as a subtle dig at the Polish star’s achievement, leading to a sharp response from Świątek’s physiotherapist, Maciej Ryszczuk, who slammed Gilbert for undermining the significance of her win.
@bgtennisnation it’s so low that even you can feel the bottom. Do your research better. Winning ugly doesn’t mean commenting ugly
— Maciej Ryszczuk (@MRyszczuk) July 12, 2025
How Did Świątek React to Her Wimbledon Breakthrough?
At the 2025 Wimbledon trophy ceremony, Świątek called the win a surprise, admitting she never imagined claiming the London Major and thought it was out of reach.
“I didn’t even dream because, for me, it was just way too far. I feel like I am already an experienced player. But, after winning the slams before, I never really expected this one,” Świątek said.
The Pole also took a moment to thank her coach, Wim Fissette, who joined her team in late 2024.
“I want to thank my coach who joined this year. With ups and downs, right now we showed everybody that it’s working. I feel like I improved my game enough to feel comfortable here,” she added.
In the end, whether she faced a top-10 opponent, Iga Świątek didn’t just win Wimbledon, she owned it.
