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Iga Swiatek’s dominant Wimbledon campaign, capped by a jaw-dropping 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the final, should have been the pinnacle of celebration. The Polish star not only lifted her first Wimbledon title but also secured her sixth Grand Slam singles trophy — a feat that places her among tennis’s modern greats.
However, the glory of Swiatek’s historic triumph was abruptly clouded by sharp criticism from Brad Gilbert, former coach of American star Coco Gauff. His comments, made on social media just after the final, have drawn ire from fans and insiders alike, particularly Swiatek’s own team.
“A Sad Day for Tennis”: Brad Gilbert's remark sparks firestorm
Shortly after the final, Gilbert took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure with how the final played out. His remarks appeared to downplay Iga Swiatek’s achievement by highlighting the lopsided scoreline and questioning the level of competition she faced.
“That’s a very sad day for tennis on center court @Wimbledon,” he posted. “Got to feel for AA. Last time that happened 1988 @rolandgarros, final was like 35 mins Graf vs Zverev.”
He went on to note that Swiatek hadn’t faced a top-10 player during her Wimbledon run:
“Crazy, Iga Pop tourney stat, the highest ranked player she has played this @Wimbledon [Liudmila] Samsonova at 19. AA is ranked 12, not sure when last time someone won a slam without facing a top 10 player.”
Iga Swiatek’s camp hits back swiftly
The reaction from Swiatek’s team was swift and pointed. Her physiotherapist, Maciej Ryszczuk, directly responded to the controversial post:
“So low that even you can feel the bottom,” he wrote. “Do your research better. Winning ugly doesn’t mean commenting ugly.”
Ryszczuk’s response resonated across the tennis community, which largely viewed Brad Gilbert’s remarks as dismissive of a monumental achievement. Iga Swiatek’s 6-0, 6-0 victory made her the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to not concede a single game in a Grand Slam final — a rare feat that deserved commendation, not skepticism.
Gilbert doubles down, dismissing critics
Despite the pushback, Brad Gilbert refused to retract his comments. Instead, he brushed off the backlash with a defiant tone:
“Everyone take a freaking chill pill, it’s Twitter oouch on sensitivity.”
Though he did not directly engage with Ryszczuk’s clapback, the former coach’s attitude suggested he remained unbothered by the growing criticism. Still, many in the tennis world felt his remarks undermined the value of Swiatek’s incredible Wimbledon run.
A distraction from a defining moment
While controversy brewed online, Iga Swiatek remained focused on her achievement — becoming one of the few women to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces and inching ever closer to the all-time greats. Despite external noise, her place in history was firmly secured with this milestone victory.
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