'Wimbledon towel thief' Iga Swiatek says this one's for keeps

During the Wimbledon fortnight, a grinning Iga Swiatek was often caught on camera cramming dozens of official towels into her tennis bags, creating a running joke that "Wimbledon's towel thief strikes again!"

On Saturday, the All England Club marked her fondness with a perfectly fitting tribute. After dismantling Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes to claim her maiden Wimbledon title, Swiatek was presented with a personalised purple and green towel embroidered with the words: Property of Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon Champion.

“This one’s for keeps,” read the tournament’s post on X, accompanied by a picture of a beaming Swiatek holding her trophy and new prized possession.

Swiatek had joked earlier in the tournament that players' love of Grand Slam towels was a quiet obsession. “It’s a topic no one ever talks about,” she said. “Every time I come back from a Slam I have like 10 friends and 10 family members wanting towels. So, sorry guys. Sorry Wimbledon. I don’t know if I’m supposed to do that.”

The 24-year-old Pole now has one she will never have to sneak away with. And she earned it in style.

Already a US Open and four-time French Open champion, Swiatek’s stunning Centre Court performance made her the youngest woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. She is also the first player since Monica Seles in 1992 to win her first six major finals.

“It’s something surreal,” Swiatek said after lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish. “Tennis keeps surprising me and I keep surprising myself. From the first day we stepped on grass, we just worked hard without expectation. I’m just happy.”

Her opponent, 13th-seed Anisimova, was left shell-shocked. The American had made an emotional run to her first Slam final but found herself overwhelmed by Swiatek’s precision and power. The defeat marked the first time since 1911 that a woman had lost a Wimbledon final 6-0, 6-0, and the first such scoreline in any major final since Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva in the 1988 French Open.

Anisimova began the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 win of her own over Yulia Putintseva but admitted she ran out of gas in the final.

“I didn’t have enough today,” she said, holding back tears. “But I’ll keep working and I believe in myself. I hope to be back again one day.”

Poland erupted in celebration. President Andrzej Duda hailed the win as “history not just for Polish sport, but for Polish pride,” while Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a photo of himself watching Swiatek’s interview with a bowl of pasta and strawberries – her chosen Wimbledon cheat meal.

The victory, Swiatek’s 100th in just 120 Grand Slam matches, also dashed hopes of an “American Slam” sweep in 2024, after Madison Keys and Coco Gauff had won in Australia and Paris, respectively.

Among those cheering her on was Friends actress Courteney Cox, who embraced Swiatek post-match. “I’m just happy,” said Swiatek. “This is the life I’ve chosen, and moments like this make it all worth it.”