Could a bowl of strawberries get you in trouble at Wimbledon? If you’re Iga Swiatek, apparently, yes. The Polish tennis star, who stormed into the second week of the 2025 Championships with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 win over Danielle Collins, has made headlines for more than just her tennis. Well, recently her brutally honest and slightly cheeky comments during her press rounds have sparked laughs, headlines, and maybe just a little controversy over one of Wimbledon’s most sacred traditions: strawberries and cream.

It all began with a food question. Swiatek, ever candid, admitted she’s been staying away from the British fare like fish and chips during the tournament. “Too heavy,” she shrugged. While her team has been indulging in it almost daily “like it’s their cheat meal,” Swiatek has been sticking to something a little closer to home. Her go-to comfort dish? Strawberries with pasta, sometimes with a touch of yogurt or cream. “I have my favourite, actually, I ate it as a kid, it’s pasta or strawberries so. That’s strange,” she laughed. “But it’s just great. It’s a normal summer dish in Poland. Dreams, guys, pasta, pasta, strawberries, a little bit of yoghurt.” Naturally, the conversation turned to the famous Wimbledon strawberries.

When asked to compare Polish ones with Britain’s, Iga Swiatek didn’t hesitate. “Honestly, I think Poland,” she said, smiling. Even though we know what strawberries at Wimbledon mean! Strawberries and cream have been a hallmark of Wimbledon since 1877, long predating tennis itself, served originally at the All England Croquet Club. The club even calls them a “true icon of The Championships.” But Swiatek believes, “Because we have better climate for strawberries, right?” To some extent, it’s true, Poland’s strawberries benefit from a cooler, slower-growing climate that cultivates intense sweetness and flavor.

Then, Iga Swiatek, fully aware of how that would land, she added with a laugh, “Now Wimbledon is probably going to ban me from answering these questions.” Still, she tried to soften the blow: “The strawberries are great here, as well. They are different. But they are great.” Whether she’s skipping fish and chips, inventing new strawberry dishes, or bringing her own flavor to SW19 and Wimbledon wouldn’t be the same without it. And while she may not be overly impressed with the strawberries, there’s clearly something she is impressed with because she keeps sneaking it out. What is it?

Iga Swiatek came for the trophy but keeps taking home something else

Believe it to not, she is full of life. At Wimbledon 2025, Iga Swiatek is doing what she does best: winning matches and winning over fans. But it’s not just her clinical tennis that’s got people talking. In a lighthearted moment after her third-round win, Swiatek confessed to something that instantly made her even more relatable: collecting, aka stealing, Wimbledon towels. “Every time I come back from a Slam I think I have like 10 friends and 10 family members wanting towels… So, sorry Wimbledon. I don’t know if I’m supposed to do that!” she said, laughing.

And as if that wasn’t enough to make fans smile, she added, “I might have to build a new room in my house just for Grand Slam towels!” Within hours, social media had unofficially crowned her the “Towel Queen of Wimbledon.” It’s just one of several offbeat. While most players play it safe in press rooms, Swiatek’s been refreshingly candid, offering a little levity to go with her top-tier tennis. Next up: a fourth-round clash with Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Monday, July 7.

It’s a meeting of two former teen prodigies who first crossed paths at the 2021 French Open, a match Iga Swiatek won in straight sets. But this time, the stakes feel bigger. Tauson is coming off a stunning upset of Elena Rybakina, and Swiatek is looking more at home on grass than ever before. With her game peaking and her personality shining, this could be one of the most entertaining matchups of the week, on and off the court.