Fans on Centre Court had barely sat down when Iga Swiatek lifted the trophy on Saturday, as she lifted the title with a 57-minute win.
The Pole walked on court as the favorite to beat Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final, but few would have predicted the one-sided beatdown that occurred.
After just 57 minutes, Swiatek defeated Anisimova 6-0, 6-0, to clinch her sixth Grand Slam title and her first at the All England Club.
The final wasn’t the thriller many were hoping for, as Swiatek secured the first 6-0, 6-0 win in a Wimbledon final for over 100 years.
Swiatek beat Anisimova in one of the quickest Wimbledon finals ever, but what was the longest? And who won?
Venus Williams played Lindsay Davenport in the longest women’s Wimbledon final ever
20 years ago, the 14th seed Venus Williams and the number one seed Lindsay Davenport made their way through to the 2005 Wimbledon final.
Venus Williams’ route to the final
- 1R – Defeated (LL) Eva Birnerova, 6-2, 6-4
- 2R – Defeated Nicole Pratt, 7-5, 6-3
- 3R – Defeated (20) Daniela Hantuchova, 7-5, 6-3
- 4R – Defeated Jill Craybas, 6-0, 6-2
- QF – Defeated (12) Mary Pierce, 6-0, 7-6
- SF – Defeated (2) Maria Sharapova, 7-6, 6-1
Lindsay Davenport’s route to the final
- 1R – Defeated Alina Jidkova, 6-0, 6-2
- 2R – Defeated (Q) Jamea Jackson, 6-0, 6-3
- 3R – Defeated (30) Dinara Safina, 6-2, 6-1
- 4R – Defeated (15) Kim Clijsters, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3
- QF – Defeated (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6, 6-3
- SF – Defeated (3) Amelie Mauresmo, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4
There was little to separate the pair heading into the match, as whilst Davenport led the head-to-head 14-12, Williams had won their two previous meetings at Grand Slam tournaments.
It was 29-year-old Davenport who struck first in the final, breaking in the third game, as she held on to that advantage, taking the first set 6-4.
A tight second set followed, with both players giving it their all on Centre Court, sending things to a tiebreaker.
Davenport was a tiebreak away from the Wimbledon title but couldn’t get over the line as Williams won the second set 7-6 [7-4].
The 2005 Wimbledon final was set for a deciding set, one that the fans couldn’t take their eyes off.
With Williams serving in the final set, Davenport earned herself a Championship point at 4-5, 30-40.
She was unable to convert, however, as a blistering backhand from Williams sent the game to deuce.
Surviving and holding serve, Williams soon earned herself two chances to break at 7-7, 15-40.
Davenport saved two break points but couldn’t do the same when Williams earned herself another in deuce, as the younger of the two Americans moved within a game of the Wimbledon title.
Crossing the finish line 4-6, 7-6, 9-7, Williams won her first Grand Slam title in four years, repeating her 2001 Wimbledon final victory over Davenport.
At two hours and 45 minutes, Williams and Davenport had completed the longest women’s Wimbledon final in tournament history, a record that stands to this day.
Unsurprisingly, there were contrasting emotions after the match, as both players gave their verdict on the legendary final.
What did Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport say after their record-breaking Wimbledon final?
During her post-match press conference, Williams shared her thoughts on the match, having picked up her third Wimbledon title.
“I feel great to have accomplished this, but I feel like I want to do a lot more. But it was a tough match, for sure,” she said.
“I just wanted to hang in there. I didn’t want to be off the court in one hour. I wanted it to be an hour 30, hour 40, something.”
Davenport, on the other hand, was disappointed, but was quick to heap praise on her victorious opponent.
“Yeah, it’s tough to try to really put it into words right now. Obviously, I’m extremely disappointed,” she said.
“But, I mean, I feel like I gave it everything I had out there, and every time the chips were down for Venus [Williams], she played unbelievable.
“I mean, you know, I thought I played really well. I thought I had a lot of chances. And I felt like she never allowed me to take advantage of those chances. She just played great whenever she was down.”
Davenport and Williams never contested another match on the WTA Tour, but their names will forever be etched in the history books for their efforts in the record-breaking 2005 Wimbledon final.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
