Swiatek: "Sometimes, it is not easy to enjoy playing tennis"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 30 Jun 2026 | 18.52

Iga Swiatek, excited at Wimbledon 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Iga Swiatek began her title defense at Wimbledon 2026 with a hard-fought victory against Taylor Townsend. The Polish player needed three sets to overcome one of the trickiest opponents in the draw on grass, alternating between moments of great brilliance and periods of doubt, especially on her serve.

After the match, Iga Swiatek acknowledged that returning to the Centre Court of Wimbledon 2026 as the reigning champion brought about significant emotional pressure. She explained how she managed to overcome a tough second set, talked about the serving issues she has been facing this season, and confessed how special it was to share the debut with her father and sister from the stands.

Iga Swiatek analyses the pressure of defending Wimbledon and explains her serving issues

Swiatek describes the emotions at Wimbledon

The Polish player admitted that her Wimbledon debut demanded more mentally than any other Grand Slam opener. "Defending the title is never easy. Last year I experienced probably the most incredible moment of my career here, and today I felt many of those emotions again.

There was a mix of feelings that was very hard to manage. I knew many people were anticipating this match, and everything was starting anew on this court. It's a strange feeling because, in the end, it's just a tennis match, but Wimbledon has something special.

I wanted everyone to enjoy the moment, and I also wanted to enjoy it myself, even though playing tennis sometimes doesn't make it easy. In the end, I am very happy to have won and to have another chance to play on this court."

Iga explains what happened with her serve and how she managed to recover

One of the most delicate moments of the match came during the second set when Swiatek completely lost her rhythm on serve. The champion believes she identified the root of the issue. "I think, at times, I just get a bit tenser, and it's not always easy to shake off that tension. The serve is probably the most complex movement in tennis, and it can easily stop functioning for a few games.

The most important thing for me was that I managed to serve well again in the third set. I more or less know what I did wrong, and now I need to have more clarity in those moments to reset mentally and serve again with the quality I show in practice and also demonstrated at the beginning of the match. Is it a technical or mental issue? In tennis, everything is connected."

Swiatek breaks a pattern that has haunted her all season

The Polish player also acknowledged that she had struggled particularly in the third sets this year, a situation she managed to reverse this time thanks to a calmer approach. "I thought about it for a moment, but when you're on the court, you don't have time to dwell too much. I simply wanted to change that pattern and felt that this was the moment to do it.

For a good part of the season, I found it hard to accept that some sets slipped away from me. Today, however, I faced the third set with much more composure. I knew exactly how I had to play and leaned on that."

"I also understood that I couldn't keep thinking about the errors in the second set as there was still another set to play. I felt my tennis was still there; I just needed to be a bit more precise, take fewer risks, and start the third set well.

Furthermore, Taylor raised her level significantly. She started putting more pressure, approached the net better, and also forced me to make errors. In tennis, there are always two players on the court, and that also needs to be taken into account."

Swiatek on the challenge of facing Townsend

Swiatek didn't hesitate to praise the tennis displayed by Townsend and explained why she expected such a tough opener. "I knew I had to be prepared from the very first round to play at a very high level. Taylor is a player who understands very well how to play on grass, and that is very noticeable.

On one hand, there is more pressure because you know you can't afford to start slowly. But, at the same time, you also accept that the opponent can play very well, and not everything depends on you. She can also hit extraordinary shots, and, in a way, that releases some pressure for you."

Why Swiatek was so emotional on court

The reigning champion also spoke about the significance of playing this match with two of the most important people in her life accompanying her from the stands. "When more people from my inner circle come to some tournaments, I sometimes feel more expectations, but this time only the two most important people for me were there.

I didn't feel pressure because I know they are here to support me. My sister understands perfectly how I feel in moments like this. Besides, they also wanted to experience being in the Royal Box. It doesn't happen often, and it meant a lot to me that they could enjoy it. I think even for them, it was quite a stressful day. I am very happy that everything ended positively and that they could also enjoy this moment."

The defense of the title at Wimbledon 2026 started with more struggle than expected but also with a victory that can boost the confidence of Iga Swiatek. The Polish player went through a match full of emotions, managed to overcome one of the most challenging moments with her serve, and took the first step towards attempting to replicate the success she achieved a year ago at the Tennis Cathedral.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Swiatek: "A veces, no es sencillo disfrutar jugando a tenis"

Iga Swiatek