Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek was visibly emotional, weeping on court after narrowly avoiding a first-round upset against world No. 79 Taylor Townsend. The Polish star secured a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, a match that saw her form fluctuate dramatically.
Swiatek began the contest in dominant fashion, taking the first set convincingly. However, her performance faltered in the second set, marked by an ineffective forehand and a vulnerable serve, allowing Townsend to level the match. The third set proved a tense affair, with Swiatek saving multiple break points in a grueling opening service game that went through nine deuces.
"I’m not sure if I’m able to talk that much," Swiatek admitted during her on-court interview. "It was a tough couple of weeks, and not a season where everything went how I wanted, so I don’t think I won any three-set matches. I’m happy that I did it here. Obviously it means a lot, opening the court as the defending champion - I'm just happy to be here."
Swiatek has struggled in recent three-set matches, losing seven of her last eight. Her opponent, doubles specialist Townsend, was supported by fellow players Naomi Osaka and Katerina Siniakova.
In contrast, Amanda Anisimova, Swiatek's opponent in the 2025 Wimbledon final, advanced smoothly through her first-round match. Anisimova defeated qualifier Lina Gjorcheska 6-3, 6-2. This marks her return to the tournament a year after her significant loss to Swiatek in the final.
Anisimova, who has been managing injuries this season, expressed a focus on the present. "It was a year ago, so it’s not like I started playing this match thinking about the final, or anything last year," she stated after her win. She began her match with an ace and held her opening game to love, seeking to put last year's final performance behind her.
Gjorcheska, at 31, made her Grand Slam main draw debut, becoming the oldest debutante in the women's singles at Wimbledon and the first from North Macedonia.
Despite her convincing win, Anisimova showed frustration with moments in her match, indicating a drive for perfection. She is scheduled to face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in her next match.