How Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin have helped Wimbledon champion Iga Świątek | CNN
Wimbledon, London —
When Iga Świątek steps out on the pristine Wimbledon grass for the first time this year, she’ll be doing so as the reigning champion.
Rewind to the 2025 tournament and a laser-focused Świątek was cruising to her first title at the All England Club, a dream eventually achieved with a crushing 6-0, 6-0 win against American Amanda Anisimova in the final.
Despite now carrying the label of champion into the tournament, the six-time grand slam winner told CNN Sports that her approach hasn’t really changed at all.
“Sport is fair, so only the work that you do now and when you actually compete matters,” the 25-year-old said as she put the finishing touches to her preparation.
“I’ll try to be there and not really think about the past, but focus on doing the work step by step, match by match, because that’s what always works and that’s the right approach.
“It’s not always easy to do that, but that’s another topic.”
They’re wise words from an athlete who is mature beyond her years, a player who was thrust onto the global stage at such a young age.
Świątek was only 19 when she won her first grand slam title at the French Open in 2020, becoming the first player from Poland to ever win a major singles title.
A spell as the world No. 1 and five more grand slam titles have followed as she’s cemented herself as one of the faces of the sport. Her profile has also grown off the court. In 2023, she became the first female player to sign for On as the brand looked to expand into the tennis market.
It all created a buzz around an athlete who is more comfortable with a quiet life away from the cameras.
Famous friends
Lindsey Vonn looks on during a match between Świątek and Jessica Pegula at the 2022 US Open.
She says leaning on her friends and family has helped her maintain a healthy balance in her life as she attempts to navigate all the chaos, looking for opportunities to switch off from tennis and the intensity required for her game to thrive.
Some of those friends are more famous than others. In her conversation with CNN, Świątek was quick to credit both Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin for the support and advice they’ve given her over the years.
Both women have sat at the very top of alpine skiing, becoming the face of the sport and carrying the weight that comes with it.
Świątek has been able to use both as a sounding board, learning tips that have helped with her approach to tennis and wider life.
“Even though I’m totally different than [Vonn] in terms of personality, I feel like watching her, I learned how to be courageous and also how to handle pressure,” the world No. 3 said.
“For years, she has been the most famous person in her sport, and when people thought of alpine skiing, they thought of her. She had to carry this sport a little bit on her shoulders, even though there were many great athletes.
“So watching her and how strong she is, and how she presents herself, and how she carries herself, that also gave me a lot.”
Mikaela Shiffrin chatting to Lindsey Vonn at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Vonn is a well-known tennis fan and was in London to watch Serena Wiliams make her comeback at the Queen’s Championships earlier this month.
Świątek has met the skiing icon on several occasions and stays in regular contact with the 41-year-old, who is continuing to recover from her serious injury sustained during the Winter Olympics earlier this year.
“She understands a lot about tennis, you know, so it’s easy to talk to her about that,” Świątek added.
The Polish superstar is also grateful for the help of another skiing icon, Shiffrin. Although the pair have never met face-to-face, the American has been happy to lend some advice over the years via private messages.
Świątek remembers a particular time when she was struggling on tour in 2021 and reached out to Shiifrin for some help.
“She was really nice and she gave me a lot of perspective. So, from time to time, we text as well,” she said.
“She is more similar to me. A bit more like, I don’t know, I would say introverted and in our own bubble. It’s nice to compare experiences, and it’s also great that these athletes are sometimes available to talk because that’s what makes this whole thing so amazing.
“I can ask them questions, and that’s when I know that they’re also great people off the field because they’re open to give advice and share their experiences and maybe have an impact on a younger athlete and help them achieve things.”
Serena comeback
Serena Williams is practicing ahead of her Wimbledon comeback this week.
Świątek will also have the chance to watch another one of her role models up close at this year’s Wimbledon.
Like the rest of the world, the reigning champion is excited by Serena’s stunning return to tennis. The American won seven singles titles at Wimbledon during her unrivaled career and has accepted a wild card to play in the draw this year as she dips her toes back into competition after almost four years out of the sport.
Świątek never played against Williams on tour but would face the 44-year-old should they both make it to the third round.
“It’s great that she has made this decision because she’s such a role model. I mean, it’s great for us because we can be around Serena.
“I will be happy to observe and to learn, because she’s obviously the GOAT (greatest of all time), and she inspired so many of us, and she showed her power throughout so many years, even decades, you know.
“I’m not completely surprised that she’s back because I feel like she achieved everything, but on the other hand, she’s completely free to do whatever she wants. She obviously loves tennis so much and it’s great to see her back.”
Świątek will start her title defense on Tuesday when she plays American Taylor Townsend in the first round.
Williams will also begin her campaign on Tuesday against Australian Maya Joint, who is over half her age.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
