Iga Swiatek praises Venus Williams after revealing early WTA encounter: “She held the door open for me”

Monday, 29 June 2026 at 08:30

Iga Swiatek praised former world No. 1 Venus Williams while revealing a particular encounter with the American. When the Polish player was taking her first steps on the WTA Tour, it was the seven-time Grand Slam champion who made the first kind gesture towards her.

It is acknowledged that in previous years the atmosphere on the WTA Tour was more distant. A few days ago, Amanda Anisimova admitted there has been a change since her early days on tour compared to the current environment, which is much more friendly for young players.

Swiatek — the same age as Anisimova and who made her first Grand Slam main draw appearances back in 2019 — recalled her early days on tour and her experience meeting one of the greatest legends in women’s tennis, Venus Williams.

This time, Swiatek arrives at Wimbledon as the defending champion of the trophy, which the elder Williams sister also won five times in singles and seven times in doubles alongside her sister Serena Williams. Swiatek shared an anecdote that highlights Venus’ sportsmanship.

Early WTA encounter with Venus Williams

Swiatek is preparing to defend her Wimbledon title, where she surprisingly triumphed in 2025, at a moment when she arrived at the tournament with doubts about her level of performance. In 2026, things have not changed much, and although she remains high in the rankings thanks to her consistency, Swiatek has taken a step back when it comes to competing for the biggest trophies.

During pre-tournament media duties and as defending champion, Swiatek gave an interview for Wimbledon from Centre Court, where she claimed her sixth major title a year earlier. On that occasion, she defeated players such as Liudmila Samsonova and Belinda Bencic before beating Amanda Anisimova in the final by a historic 6-0, 6-0 scoreline.

While speaking about her experiences as a multiple Grand Slam champion, Swiatek referred to her first interaction with Venus Williams, who once held a door open for her.

“I remember that she was probably like the first person on the WTA that literally held the door for me for like 10 seconds so I could walk through, and I was like, you know, also no one… and I was like, wow, Venus Williams just held the door for me,” she said.

“I was quite surprised because she seems really calm and so experienced, and you can see that from how she acts and how she looks, and you can kind of feel the wisdom. I don’t know.”

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Although Venus Williams has remained active on tour, playing occasional tournaments every year, she has never faced Swiatek in a professional match.

The Polish player, professional since 2019, now has a total of six Grand Slam titles and 125 weeks as world No. 1 in the WTA rankings. On the other hand, Venus Williams has won a total of seven Grand Slam singles titles (and reached nine additional finals), as well as spending 11 weeks at the top of the rankings.

Iga Swiatek’s first impression of Venus Williams was memorable 🫶 pic.twitter.com/ZSV9WFpZax
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2026

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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