Swiatek survives Townsend test to begin Wimbledon defence

Iga Swiatek is through to the second round at Wimbledon after beating Taylor Townsend 6-1 2-6 6-3 in just over two hours. The defending champion looked in control early, but had to recover from a difficult second set before closing out the match.

Swiatek’s opening set was one-sided, with the third seed dropping only one game and producing 10 winners. Townsend then changed the rhythm, pressuring Swiatek’s serve and using variety to force a decider as the Pole’s errors mounted.

The key passage came at the start of the third set, when Swiatek held after a 12-minute game in which she saved four break points despite three double faults. That hold steadied her, and she later broke for a 5-2 lead before serving out the win.

After the match, Swiatek was visibly emotional and referred to a difficult recent period, noting that her season had not gone as she had hoped. She has not won a title this year and will next face Karolina Pliskova, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up.