Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek held off an upset bid on Centre Court from Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, to advance to the second round on Tuesday in London.
Emotions overtook Swiatek, the No. 3 seed in the women’s draw, when she reached her seat post-match. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she buried her face in a towel.
“This was about believing I could do it. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. I don’t think I’ve won any third set recently,” she said.
A third set is rare territory for Swiatek in majors. Townsend became the first player to win a set against Swiatek in the first round of a Grand Slam event since Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland ousted her in the opener in 2019 in straight sets.
That remains her only loss in the first round of a major.
No. 6 Amanda Anisimova, who didn’t win a game in the 2025 final loss to Swiatek, also advanced Tuesday, beating Lina Gjorcheska of North Macedonia 6-3, 6-2.
No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina was victorious in three sets over Lois Boisson of France 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
Swiatek saved nine of 12 break points. Townsend challenged Swiatek with a strong return game, edging closer to the net — a few feet inside the baseline — on most second serves.
The win pits Poland’s Swiatek against another former World No. 1, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, in the second round on Thursday. She defeated countrywoman Tereza Valentova 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday in the first round.
–Field Level Media
