Social media was left scratching its collective head after golf influencer and former pro Paige Spiranac posted a congratulatory message to newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek—one that had fans asking: “Is this a compliment or a backhanded diss?”
Just minutes after Swiatek’s straight-sets victory over Amanda Anisimova, Spiranac took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote:
> “Congrats to Iga Swiatek! Graceful win. You’ve finally stepped out of Serena’s shadow—and Coco’s, too. You’re now the real queen… for now 😉👑🎾 #Wimbledon”
The post, meant as praise, quickly ignited controversy.
“What do you mean ‘for now’?” one fan replied.
“This sounds more like shade than support,” another commented.
“Is Paige implying Iga’s win isn’t legit?” asked a puzzled follower.
The issue? Many felt the message unnecessarily dragged Coco Gauff and Serena Williams into the spotlight, diminishing Iga’s hard-earned victory and throwing subtle shade under the guise of congratulations.
Paige, known for her outspoken and often edgy commentary, hasn’t responded to the backlash—yet. But the internet certainly has.
One viral post read: “Paige Spiranac congratulating Iga by comparing her to Coco and Serena is like complimenting someone’s cooking by saying ‘it’s not bad for once.’”
Others jumped to Iga’s defense, with one fan tweeting: “Swiatek didn’t need to ‘step out’ of anyone’s shadow. She’s been dominating the tour. Respect that.”
Ironically, Iga herself had no part in the drama. In her post-match interview, the Polish star kept things classy, saying: “This title means so much to me. Everyone has their own journey. I admire Coco, I admire Serena, and I just want to write my own story.”
As for Paige, her social media presence thrives on bold statements and hot takes—but this one may have crossed a line. Whether it was a clumsy attempt at wit or just poorly worded support, the message didn’t land as intended.
One thing’s for sure: Paige Spiranac may have just added fuel to a rivalry that didn’t need any—and Iga Swiatek, crowned queen of Wimbledon 2025, didn’t ask for drama to come with her crown. 👑🔥