Iga Świątek held off Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 on Centre Court to open her 2026 Wimbledon title defense. The No. 3 seed needed over two hours to outlast the US star in a match that shifted from set to set.
Swiatek Dominates Early, Townsend Strikes Back
Świątek controlled the opener from the second game on, running off six straight behind precise placement from the baseline. But Townsend answered immediately. The three-time Grand Slam doubles champion took the net away from Świątek in the second set. She converted nearly every approach, leveling the match with an ace on her third set point.
The decider then hinged on its opening game, a 21-minute grind in which Świątek committed three double faults. Yet somehow, she still managed to hold after saving four break points across nine deuces.
"Sometimes just serving the ball in might be a tough ask," Świątek said. "This game for sure was about that, and about believing that I can do it."
That hold proved to be the turning point. Świątek broke for 4-2, gave it back, then won the match's best rally — an angled drop shot followed by a pass into open court — to break again and serve it out at love.
She faces 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova next.
