Wimbledon fever is in the air! Fans and pundits are buzzing with predictions, with Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur leading the pack as the most popular picks. But when Iga Swiatek, the current dominant force in women’s tennis, stepped up to share her choice, she defied expectations, seemingly unfazed by the potential for an unpopular opinion.

In a recent interview, Iga Swiatek was exposed to a situation of naming her favorites and champion pick for Wimbledon. Describing it as “a bit of a different tournament”, she stated, .”I feel like it’s a very difficult tournament, you can’t build your form and your game to reach your peak level at Wimbledon…Players who aren’t favorites can win it. The opportunity is bigger.” The Pole also highlighted the mental aspect of the tournament, saying, “The ball is low, super fast and it’s more complicated. The player who adapts best to the surface will win.”

Even after possessing the understanding of all the facts in detail, she made her determination for the tournament clear. “I really need to focus on the process of becoming a better player here, learning how to play the best kind of tennis on grass, not focusing on the rankings or the expectations that come with the rankings. That’s what I’m going to do,” she said. Furthermore, pressing on her memories of being a junior champion at the All England Club, she added, “I realized what Wimbledon meant when I played as a junior. It was hard for me to understand it through television.” Swiatek’s dominance is undeniable, but Gauff and Jabeur are seen as surprise title contenders by analysts, despite the odds favoring the current world number one.

A 15-year-old Coco Gauff, then ranked a lowly 313th, stunned the legendary Venus Williams at 2019 Wimbledon. That victory propelled Gauff into the spotlight, and she embarked on a dream run to the fourth round. Fast forward to today, and Gauff is a Grand Slam champion herself, having conquered the US Open last year. She arrives at Wimbledon as the second seed, a far cry from her underdog status in 2019. However, replicating that magical run remains elusive, as she fell in the first round last year. British player Naomi Broady acknowledges “Coco is a fighter. She is a Grand Slam champion now and she did that at home…” Next up is Ons Jabeur!

A year ago, Wimbledon’s “Minister of Happiness,” Ons Jabeur, left Centre Court heartbroken. The favorite for a second consecutive final, she fell short again, losing in straight sets to Marketa Vondrousova. This season has been a challenge, with Jabeur battling form and a knee injury. Despite the struggles, the crowd adores Jabeur at Wimbledon. If she reaches the final again, fans will be rooting for her to finally claim the title. “Ons is always going to be a favourite at Wimbledon – her game just fits seamlessly on the grass,” explained Broady. Nevertheless, Swiatek is confident in her abilities.

The fearlessness comes from her recent victories in three consecutive clay court tournaments, including the Madrid Open, Italian Open, and Roland Garros. Swiatek, who regards herself as a “perfectionist,” has a knack for the difficulty of transitioning to grass. “I’ll just see and I’ll work hard to play better there,” she said. Swiatek currently stands on a career record of 16 wins and seven losses on grass. While there’s a sheer need to be better on grass, her confidence still makes tougher claims. With the Wimbledon title lying ahead, the Pole also has a chance to create history.

Iga Swiatek stands a chance to win the ‘Channel Slam’

The upcoming grass court major is set to be a lot more than just a regular grand slam event. With her recent win over Jasmine Paolini to secure the Roland Garros title, she now has a chance to hit the ‘Channel Slam’. Confused about the term? Channel Slam, a massive achievement in the tennis world, is when a player wins the Wimbledon title soon after lifting the trophy at Roland Garros. However, there are only a handful of names who have done this so far.

Australian WTA star Margaret Court completed this rare achievement back in 1970. American former pros Billie Jean King and Chris Evert also managed to do so in 1972 and 1974 respectively. While Iga Swiatek has this opportunity to draw her name parallel to the tennis legend, it is just about time that the fans will find out!