Following Iga Swiatek’s dominant victory at Wimbledon, tennis coach Brad Gilbert faced significant backlash and was told to “do your research” after making comments that were perceived as downplaying her achievement. Swiatek secured her Wimbledon title by defeating Amanda Anisimova in a resounding 6-0, 6-0 match, one of the most one-sided Grand Slam finals in history. This marked her sixth Grand Slam singles trophy and her first Wimbledon win.
Gilbert’s Comments on Social Media
After Swiatek’s swift 57-minute victory, Brad Gilbert, former coach of Coco Gauff, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts. He posted: “Crazy. Iga Pop tourney stat, the highest ranked player she has played this @Wimbledon Samsonova at 19 AA is ranked 12, not sure when last time someone won a slam without facing a top 10 player.” He also commented, “That’s a very sad day for tennis on center court @Wimbledon. Got to feel for AA. Last time that happened 1988 @rolandgarros, final was like 35 mins Graf vs Zverev.” These remarks were widely interpreted as questioning the strength of the competition Swiatek faced and the nature of the final itself.
The Swift Response from Swiatek’s Team
Maciej Ryszczuk, Iga Swiatek’s physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach, was quick to respond to Gilbert’s posts. Ryszczuk publicly retorted on X: “It’s so low that even you can feel the bottom. Do your research better. Winning ugly doesn’t mean commenting ugly.” He further clarified his frustration to Interia, stating that for someone of Gilbert’s stature and achievements, such comments were “unacceptable” and “embarrassing.” Ryszczuk emphasized that a little research would show that such tournament structures, where top seeds fall early, are not unprecedented. He also highlighted the need to appreciate Swiatek’s accomplishment rather than dismiss it.
Broader Reactions and Gilbert’s Stance
The exchange between Gilbert and Swiatek’s team resonated across the tennis community, with many viewing Gilbert’s remarks as undermining a monumental achievement. Despite the pushback, Gilbert did not retract his comments. Instead, he addressed the wider criticism with a defiant tone, tweeting: “Everyone take a freaking chill pill, it’s twitter oouch on sensitivity.” While he did not directly engage with Ryszczuk, his attitude suggested he remained unbothered by the growing criticism.
It is worth noting that Swiatek’s 6-0, 6-0 victory was the first “double bagel” in a Wimbledon women’s final in the Open Era and the first since 1911. Additionally, while Swiatek did not face a top-10 opponent, Emma Raducanu also won the 2021 US Open without facing a top-10 player. The controversy, however, ultimately served as a distraction from Swiatek’s historic triumph.
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