Swiatek Advances Wimbledon Second Round Over Kudermetova

Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner and current world No. 4, started her 2025 Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets victory over Wimbledon debutant Polina Kudermetova, winning 7-5, 6-1 despite challenging conditions including high temperatures over 33 degrees Celsius. Swiatek faced a tough first set against the 22-year-old Russian, who matched her baseline play for 45 minutes, but secured the decisive break late in the opening set and dominated the second set in just 24 minutes. The Polish star, who has yet to reach a Wimbledon semifinal, expressed confidence from her recent grasscourt play and appreciated the support of fans amid the heat. Her next opponent will be American Caty McNally, who won her first-round match convincingly. Swiatek's performance highlights her ongoing effort to improve on grass, a surface where she is still developing despite her dominance on clay. With this win, she extends her streak of opening match victories to 61—the longest of any woman this century.