Iga Swiatek has done it again! Wimbledon has been a tough nut for her to crack, but she’s proving she’s always ready for the challenge. On July 10, she dismantled Belinda Bencic in a stunning straight-sets victory. The five-time Grand Slam champ needed just 71 minutes on Centre Court to seal a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win and book her first-ever final at the Championships! “I felt just good and in the zone. I was focused from the beginning till the end. So it was a really solid performance,” the Polish player said. But what keeps her so fired up to deliver these jaw-dropping performances?

Turns out, it’s all about her pre-match routine. Known for her unique quirks that contrast with her fiery on-court persona, Swiatek shared in her on-court interview how strict she is about her ritual. So, post her win, a journalist asked her: “As you walk onto court, you are often listening to music. What was the music you were listening to that got you in the mood today?”

Swiatek responded, “Same as every time. I like to keep my routines. So, there’s some AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones. So, yeah, a little rock, but not too hard.”

But Swiatek’s music taste isn’t stuck in just rock. “Yeah, I mean, before the match. Because everybody is asking me if I listen to that all the time. They keep buying me vinyl records and everything and I’m like, ‘Guys, if I would listen to that all the time, I wouldn’t be able to sleep.’ So, it’s just pre-match, just to pump myself up. But off the court, when I don’t compete, I’m more of a pop, jazzy something,” Iga Swiatek revealed, showing off her diverse playlist.

Well, is it really a surprise, though? Just months ago, Swiatek’s pre-match playlist on Spotify was released, and here is what was on it:

1. Smoke on the Water: Deep Purple
2. Can’t Stop: Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. T.N.T.: AC/DC
4. Paint It, Black: The Rolling Stones
5. You Give Love A Bad Name: Bon Jovi

And many more songs were featured on her playlist. Then, let us go back in time to the 2023 Australian Open, where the tennis star had opened up about her music choice. She had made changes to her playlist as she had been listening to the same thing for two years. “I think Black Sabbath is there, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin but different songs than before, and Lenny Kravitz. Different but still the same kind of stuff,” she revealed.

And if we go as far back as 2020, she would listen to ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ by Guns N’ Roses before every match. “I am still listening to Guns N’Roses’ Welcome to the Jungle because I want to keep my routines,” she had confessed that year, and it sounds quite similar to what she said after her latest win against Belinda Bencic. But that’s not where it ends. She is a big Taylor Swift fan!

In fact, days after winning the fourth French Open title in 2024, the tennis star attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Liverpool. She even posted a video of herself dancing to the tune of ‘Shake It Off’. That’s hardly surprising because, as a teenager, she would listen to Swift so she wouldn’t feel lonely. “Also, I learned English by listening to her songs, so she was always kind of close to me.”

Further, during this year’s French Open, she was all about Dua Lipa’s tunes, even catching one of her concerts before the tournament. Clearly, music keeps her energized and inspired on and off the court. And now, despite no days off, she’s made it to her first Wimbledon final!

Iga Swiatek opens up about her big challenge ahead of the semis…

On Wednesday, Iga dazzled with her trademark top-spinning forehand that somehow always found its mark, plus a flat backhand zipping both down the line and inside-out. She swept past Samsonova in straight sets, extending her head-to-head lead to 5-0. But despite the thrill, Iga knows there’s no time to relax.

Thanks to some quirky scheduling, the Polish No. 1 faces a Grand Slam first—no day off before her SW19 semifinal tomorrow. “Well, for sure, it’s a different rhythm than usually what we have on Grand Slams. I think I only played twice like that, so I’ll just recover today, try not to celebrate too much, but already focus on the next one. You know, prepare in the evening, and I’ll be ready tomorrow,” she said after the match.

It seems a few rock anthems kept her energized and dancing past Bencic on the court. Now the big question: can Iga Swiatek keep that energy flowing and take down Amanda Anisimova in the final? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Stay tuned to our Wimbledon Live Blog for all the latest updates and behind-the-scenes action.