Losing at French Open lifted the pressure for Wimbledon, says Swiatek

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Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 10, 2025 Polands Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her semi final match against Switzerlands Belinda Bencic REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

LONDON - There are few benefits to losing in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam but when Iga Swiatek had her fingers prised off the French Open trophy, it had one unexpected benefit -- it lifted the pressure off her shoulders heading into Wimbledon.

Swiatek crushed Switzerlands Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-0 to reach the Wimbledon final on Thursday after years of trying and failing to make a major impact at the grasscourt Grand Slam.

She has made no secret of her preference for clay courts and her four French Open titles were clear evidence that Pariss red dirt was more to her liking than Wimbledons lawns.

Yet her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open semi-finals in early June ended her chances of a fourth straight title in Paris and ensured few were tipping her for a career-best run at Wimbledon.

I think Im not going to have seasons where the pressure is not going to be kind of forced on me from the expectations from the outside anymore, she said after setting up a Saturday showdown against American Amanda Anisimova.

Every year I guess its kind of the same but I feel sometimes I can handle it better or