Swiatek analyzes the 'curse' of Wimbledon: "It's hard to say why"

Iker Jiménez | 27 Jun 2026 | 21.27

Swiatek, on the Wimbledon curse: "It's difficult to say why." Source: Getty

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Just a year ago, Iga Swiatek broke a major barrier in her career by winning Wimbledon for the first time. The Polish player, who had mostly built her legacy on clay courts until then, found the necessary confidence on the London grass to complete one of the most solid tournaments of her career and add a new Grand Slam to her already extraordinary record.

Twelve months later, she returns to the All England Club facing a major challenge. In the last decade, no champion has managed to defend the title at Wimbledon, a statistic that reflects the enormous difficulty of mastering such an unpredictable surface in a tournament that presents very different circumstances year after year.

Swiatek, aiming to break the Wimbledon curse

"It's a difficult question. I have no idea. Every player's story is different. It's hard to say why. Surely, coming back as the defending champion poses a different challenge due to everything surrounding the tournament. There have been players who had already won many tournaments and Grand Slams before conquering Wimbledon. Why is it so difficult to repeat here? Honestly, I don't know. I can't answer that question."

What did you do differently last year to win Wimbledon?

"I remember the feelings were completely different. Also, the preparation was different. That helped me a lot. Technically, many things were working very well. But, to be honest, I think the key was the tranquility and confidence I had in my shots. Many players have the level to win a Grand Slam, but when I watch my matches from last year, I remember being totally focused on the goal and practically without doubts. That's what ultimately makes you win because everyone can play good tennis. The difference lies in the mental aspect. At the beginning of the tournament, you never know exactly what your level is. You discover it with the first matches. Last year, I grew round by round, and that helped me a lot."

How does it feel to return as the defending champion of Wimbledon?

"It's exciting. I feel very proud of what I achieved last year. In a way, a dream came true. Well, it wasn't even a dream because I thought it was impossible. It feels great. But at the same time, I'm here to play a new tournament, and I need to stay focused on the present."

Is defending Wimbledon different from other Grand Slams?

"I think people talk about it a lot more here. Also, everything related to becoming a club member is something you don't experience at any other tournament. Perhaps that's why it feels different. But I try to see it realistically. The grass season last year was fantastic, although that doesn't mean I always felt comfortable on this surface. Even though I won the tournament, I still feel like there are things to discover about my game on grass.

This year, for example, Bad Homburg didn't give me the rhythm I found last season. I feel like I'm starting from a completely different situation, and I'm trying to keep my expectations low. Everyone talks about me being the defending champion, but I know I need to play matches again, and nothing will be easy just because of what happened last year. I prefer to value that experience, enjoy it, and feel proud of having lived it."

How important is psychological work?

"I think many athletes were already doing it before; they just didn't talk about it. I always felt I could be honest because I'm not a robot. No one is born knowing how to handle pressure, expectations, or stress. It needs constant work. When I was younger, I understood that was the way. For me, it's as important, or even more so, than physical preparation or purely tennis work. If your mind doesn't function properly, you can have the best tennis on the circuit, but you won't perform as you are capable of. For me, it's absolutely essential."

Will you continue 'stealing' towels this year?

"I don't have any left from last year. My friends wanted them, my family too. I even donated some because it all went viral. So I guess this year I'll have to 'steal' even more. I will keep doing it because it's the best memory you can take away from a tournament."

Although she acknowledges that lifting the trophy last year changed her relationship with Wimbledon, Swiatek insists that she doesn't start with any advantage as the defending champion. Her priority remains the same as what led to her success twelve months ago: focusing solely on each match.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Swiatek analiza la "maldición" de Wimbledon: "Es difícil decir por qué"

Iga Swiatek