Iga Swiatek to open Women's Centre Court action at Wimbledon

Saturday, 25 June 2022 at 09:45

Updated at Tuesday, 12 November 2024 at 19:36

byJordan Reynolds

After much speculation, the Wimbledon organizers have announced who will play the first women's match on Centre Court. World No. 1 Swiatek has received this honor, usually bestowed on the defending champion.

Ashleigh Barty won the women's singles at last year's Wimbledon Championships. She achieved her childhood dream by beating Karolina Pliskova in three sets after a dramatic final.

However, Barty announced her retirement from tennis in March, less than two months after winning the Australian Open. That meant the organizers needed to choose another WTA player's match to be the first on Centre Court.

Some argued Simona Halep deserved to be chosen. She would have been the defending champion at SW19 in 2021, but unfortunately, an injury stopped her from competing at the tournament and playing the first women's match on Centre Court.

As the world No. 1 at the time, Barty took Halep's place in 2021. However, some thought it would have been poetic for Halep to replace Barty on Centre Court and be fair after she missed out in 2021.

Other fans felt Serena Williams's much-anticipated return to Wimbledon 12 months after retiring with an injury in London could have been recognized by choosing the seven-time champion's match as the first on Centre Court.

However, the speculation is now over after world No. 1 Swiatek's match was picked to be the first on Centre Court. The organizers will argue they are being consistent since Barty was chosen last year due to her status as the world's top-ranked player.

Swiatek has won an extraordinary 35 matches in a row, with her most recent victory sealing a second French Open title against Coco Gauff. However, grass is her least favorite surface, which could give her opponents some hope.

The Pole will try to overcome her previous struggles on grass to put on a good show in the opening women's match on Centre Court at Wimbledon.