Swiatek sweeps past Pliskova 6-1, 6-3 at Wimbledon; Samsonova ousts Shnaider in second round
Iga Swiatek needed just 69 minutes to defeat Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3 on Centre Court, extending her head‑to‑head lead to 4‑0. Later on Thursday, Liudmila Samsonova knocked out French Open semi‑finalist Diana Shnaider.
Swiatek in command from the start
Iga Świątek broke Pliskova in the opening game and raced to a 4‑0 lead, winning 16 of the first 17 points. The first set was a one‑sided affair, with the Pole varying depth and direction so effectively that Pliskova could rarely set up her flat groundstrokes. Świątek held serve comfortably to close it 6:1, an identical scoreline to the opening frame of her first‑round win over Taylor Townsend.
I had good timing, so I coped with the fast balls that Karolina can play. On grass there are also slower shots because the ball stops, but I was ready for that.
A brief wobble then a swift recovery
Pliskova, a former world No. 1 and the 2021 Wimbledon runner‑up, started the second set more aggressively. She held serve and then broke Świątek to lead 2‑0, conjuring memories of the second‑set dip the champion experienced against Townsend. Świątek did not panic. She steadied her return position, won four consecutive games, and seized back control. A critical fifth game saw Pliskova gamble but end with a double fault, and Świątek never looked back, closing out the match at 6:3.
Iga was top today.
Conditions and the Navratilova praise
Strong wind made shot‑making unpredictable, and Świątek admitted that adapting to the gusts was the most demanding part of the contest. Martina Navratilova gave her performance a top mark, which Świątek met with characteristic modesty. She said the praise from a legend meant a lot, but questioned whether her level really deserved the highest grade, joking that maybe a five out of six was more accurate.
I don’t know if it was a six plus. It was a difficult match, especially with the wind. Especially in the last game I felt I played a lot of dirty shots that I didn’t control so well.
- Match begins. Świątek breaks immediately and races to a 4‑0 lead.
- First set ends 6‑1. Świątek wins 16 of the first 17 points.
- Pliskova wins first two games of the second set to lead 2‑0.
- Świątek breaks back, wins four straight games, and moves to 4‑2.
- Świątek closes the match 6‑1, 6‑3 after 69 minutes.
What the experts saw
Analysts noted Świątek’s improved return game and her ability to raise her level in key moments. Adam Romer, editor‑in‑chief of Tenisklub, pointed out that the 69‑minute win was far cleaner than her opening performance and a sign of building form. Łukasz Jachimiak of Sport.pl cautioned that a straight‑sets win over Pliskova did not make Świątek the tournament favourite, but it was a solid foundation. Jose Morgado highlighted that the defending champion and former No. 1 defeated another former No. 1 on Centre Court.
Next up: Eala, and Samsonova’s upset
Świątek will face Alexandra Eala in the third round on 3 July. The Filipino advanced by beating Maya Joint 3‑6, 6‑2, 6‑0. Meanwhile, Liudmila Samsonova sent home 15th seed Diana Shnaider, the recent French Open semi‑finalist who had staged a remarkable comeback against Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. Samsonova kept an aggressive rhythm, took the first set 6‑4, and held her nerve to complete the upset. Shnaider had reached the French Open last four and was expected to go deep on grass, but her Wimbledon campaign ended in the second round.
