Brad Gilbert, a legendary tennis coach, has faced backlash for his remarks concerning Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon victory. Gilbert pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) that Swiatek did not face a single top-10 player en route to winning the title. This comment has been viewed by many as an attempt to diminish Swiatek’s achievement.
The Controversial Comment
Gilbert’s exact words on X were: “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”.
Backlash and Reactions
Iga Swiatek’s Team
Maciej Ryszczuk, Iga Swiatek’s physiotherapist, responded to Gilbert’s comment, calling it “ugly” and advising Gilbert to “do your research better”. Ryszczuk’s sentiment was echoed by many fans and observers. He later clarified his frustration, stating that he found Gilbert’s comments unacceptable, especially considering his sporting and coaching achievements. He also suggested that Gilbert should “be careful what you write”.
Tennis Fans
Tennis fans widely criticized Gilbert’s remarks, with many stating that it wasn’t Swiatek’s fault that other top players were eliminated early in the tournament. Some fans accused Gilbert of trying to undermine Swiatek’s victory, especially given his past coaching relationship with Coco Gauff, who had lost in the first round at Wimbledon. Others suggested that Gilbert might have a personal bias against Swiatek.
Brad Gilbert’s Response
In response to the backlash, Gilbert told everyone to “take a freaking chill pill,” stating “it’s twitter oouch on sensitivity”.
Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon Triumph
Iga Swiatek won her first Wimbledon title by defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final with a score of 6-0, 6-0. This victory marked her sixth Grand Slam title. In her path to the Wimbledon title, Swiatek played three seeded players: Clara Tauson (23rd seed), Liudmila Samsonova (19th seed), and Amanda Anisimova (13th seed).
Historical Context
The last woman to win a major without facing a Top-10 opponent was Emma Raducanu at the 2021 U.S. Open. Aryna Sabalenka won the 2023 Australian Open without facing a single Top 10 opponent.
Coco Gauff’s Congratulatory Message
Despite Gilbert’s comments, Coco Gauff congratulated Iga Swiatek on her Wimbledon victory, demonstrating good sportsmanship.
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