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WIMBLEDON ETHICS: IGA SWIATEK REFUSED TO GIVE ANISIMOVA FREE POINT

Iga Swiatek defends her ruthless 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova. The World No. 1 reveals she was also "stressed as hell" during the match.

Wimbledon Ethics: Iga Swiatek Refused to Give Anisimova Free Point
Swiatek Defends 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon Final Win

In a recent interview, Iga Swiatek addressed those who thought she should have let Amanda Anisimova win a game in their 2025 Wimbledon final.

A lot of people anticipated a tough match between Swiatek and Anisimova at Wimbledon that year. In a memorable semifinal, the American player beat Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. Sources reported the WTA world No. 1 wasn't happy with Anisimova's behaviour during the match.

But the final didn't live up to the hype. Anisimova seemed really nervous and was defeated 0-6, 0-6. It was the first time a player hadn't won a game in a Wimbledon singles final since 1911.

Swiatek took full advantage of Anisimova's struggles. Since 2020, she's won more sets 6-0 than any other WTA player. This makes her well-suited to quickly beat an opponent who isn't playing well.

Afterwards, many fans felt sorry for Anisimova, who was having a hard time in her first Grand Slam final. Some suggested Swiatek could have given the 24-year-old a game to spare her from total defeat, since she would almost surely have won anyway.

In an interview, Swiatek said she was just trying to concentrate and wasn't thinking about how it looked. She said she only realised how strange the 6-0, 6-0 score was in a Grand Slam final after the match.

I wasn’t really thinking about how it looked; I was just playing, and I didn’t want to give any points for free. “ It’s a Wimbledon final; I really wanted to win it," she said. “After, for sure, there were a lot of crazy things happening. I remember all these interviews about the score, journalists asking questions if I should let Amanda win one game or something like that. It was pretty different.

Swiatek believes the final showed just how important a player's mental state is in tennis. She noted that many people focused on Anisimova's anxiety but didn't realise she was feeling the same way on such a big stage.

I can only say that this tournament shows tennis is such a mental sport. This part of the game has a huge impact on everything and on the results of each player. She stated. I’m really happy I handled the pressure well, because after the final, everybody was talking about Amanda being stressed or something, but I was also stressed as hell; playing the final of Wimbledon on Centre Court is a surreal experience.

Iga Swiatek plans to change her schedule in 2026.

Swiatek has often talked about how long the tennis schedule is and how many mandatory tournaments there are. In 2025, not playing enough of these mandatory events caused Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and others to lose points.

In an interview, Swiatek said she'll probably skip two tournaments in 2026. These will likely be events where she doesn't normally play well.

I would like to try missing maybe two tournaments—maybe the ones I feel I haven’t been playing well at anyway—just spending this time on grinding and getting the technique better, she said. I think it will help me also play a little bit better under stress, because my body will remember the proper movements and what it learned during this practice time.

LLOYD SLAMS JANNIK SINNER & EMMA RADUCANU: DAVIS CUP HAS BECOME 'A JOKE'

Former British No. 1 John Lloyd criticised Jannik Sinner and Emma Raducanu for skipping the Davis and BJK Cups, arguing their priorities diminish the team competitions.

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Ex-No. 1 Shocked Stars Skip Country for Rest

John Lloyd, former British No. 1, can't believe stars like Jannik Sinner and Emma Raducanu skipped the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup this year.

Sinner, ranked No. 2 globally, caught flak for not playing in the 2025 Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, even though he helped Italy win in both 2023 and 2024.

Lorenzo Musetti, ranked eighth, also backed out of Italy’s team. Still, Italy snagged a third straight title, beating Spain in the final.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz was supposed to lead Spain in the Davis Cup, but he had to withdraw due to an injury from the ATP Finals.

With these big names missing, Alexander Zverev, ranked third, was the only top 10 player at the Davis Cup Finals.

In the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in September, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, and Elena Rybakina, all top 10 players at the time, made appearances. Italy edged out the United States in the final.

Raducanu, the British No. 1, was questioned for not playing in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

On the Inside-In Tennis Podcast, Lloyd shared his disappointment about the Davis Cup’s decline, making it clear he wasn't happy about the absence of top players this year.

“Honestly, it makes me sad. Not just because Italy won, but because of what the Davis Cup is now. I’ve been saying for years that it’s become a bit of a joke,” Lloyd said.

“It gets by because when it’s played in another country, there are still people who come to watch, no matter what.

“But you can't call it the greatest team competition when only one top 10 player is participating. You can't fool people, except maybe in Italy, where they just want to see their country play, and they're lucky to have so many good players.

“But Musetti and Sinner didn't play due to physical reasons. They said they wanted to rest and get ready for next year. I can't believe it. That's what the Davis Cup has become. It never would have happened back when I played.”

Lloyd, who was an Australian Open runner-up in 1977, added that the same goes for the Billie Jean King Cup, and he criticised Raducanu’s choice.

“It’s not just the men; the women are doing it too. Look at the Billie Jean King Cup, which has also become a joke in its own way,” Lloyd continued.

“Emma Raducanu… Britain had a real chance to win it for once. She pulls out, saying she wants to spend time with her new coach and get ready for the next season or get ranking points. Are you kidding me?

“Isn't it always an honour to play for your country? What’s happened to the sport when players just say, ‘You know what, it’s the end of the season…'”

MIAMI FLASHBACK: NICK KYRGIOS'S LAST GREAT FEELING FUELS 2026 TOUR HOPES

After years of injury, Nick Kyrgios is targeting a 2026 return. He cites his comeback win over Mackenzie McDonald in Miami as his last strong emotional high.

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Miami's Win Over McDonald Was the Last Strong Emotional Match

Nick Kyrgios says he felt something strong during his Miami Masters match against Mackenzie McDonald earlier this year. He's aiming to get back on the court and compete on the tour again in 2026.

After missing almost all of 2023 and 2024 because of knee and wrist surgeries, Kyrgios started his comeback at the Brisbane International in early 2025. But the former world No. 13 struggled with wrist pain during the Australian tournaments and lost in the first round at both the Brisbane International and the Australian Open.

After his early exit from the Australian Open, Kyrgios suggested he might retire. The eight-time ATP champion then sat out February, came back in March, and retired in his first-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp at Indian Wells. He then rallied to beat McDonald 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round in Miami. It was his first main-level win since the 2022 US Open.

Kyrgios lost to Karen Khachanov in the second round in Miami and hasn't played since because of wrist and knee problems.

Kyrgios said his match against McDonald was the last one that really moved him.

The last match that made me feel something strong was probably my match earlier this year against Mackenzie McDonald in Miami. I went through many years being injured, and winning a match at the Masters level was very special for me, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist told the UTS Tour.

In mid-December, Kyrgios is scheduled to play at the World Tennis League, a mixed team tournament in Bengaluru, India.

After that, he'll go to the United Arab Emirates to play against four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka in a Battle of the Sexes match set for December 28 at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena.

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