"Even if Sabalenka had qualified, she would have had to play at her absolute best to compete," Bartoli reflects on Swiatek's final against Anisimova at Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek dominated the Wimbledon final. The Polish player secured her 6th Grand Slam title by decisively defeating Amanda Anisimova (6-0, 6-0), who was completely off her game on Centre Court.
Swiatek, who will re-enter the WTA rankings' top 3 this Monday, claimed her very first grass-court title—her first title of any kind in over a year. Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion and a spectator in the Royal Box for the match, analyzed Swiatek's performance in the final.
"She completely controlled the game from the baseline, and one thing I noticed from the Royal Box—where you're so close to the players—is that you could really feel the intensity in her shots.
The movements, the footwork, even the sound of her shoes dragging on the grass. The way she positioned herself, how she dictated the pace and directed the ball, it was extraordinary.
Honestly, it was nearly flawless, and even if Sabalenka had made it to the final, she would have had to play at her absolute best to compete. That’s why, in a way, it was a bit unfair for Amanda (Anisimova).
This was her first Grand Slam final, and she was up against a player who didn’t give her an inch or anything to work with. The match was already very tough for her before it even started because we all know Iga Swiatek’s mobility.
We know she’s capable of playing at an incredibly high level, and that’s exactly what she did today (Saturday)," Bartoli said in comments reported by the BBC after Swiatek’s triumph.
Wimbledon 
