Is it a superstition, a guilty pleasure, or just Iga being Iga?
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has once again sparked playful controversy after being caught on camera slipping a tournament towel into her bag following her Wimbledon match. Fans were quick to notice—and even quicker to react—when eagle-eyed viewers zoomed in on footage showing the Polish tennis star sneakily folding up the now-iconic Wimbledon purple-and-green towel with a grin on her face.
This isn’t the first time Swiatek’s love for towels has made headlines. In fact, she’s developed something of a reputation among tennis followers as the sport’s unofficial “Towel Bandit.” Whether it’s Roland Garros or the grass courts of SW19, if there’s a beautifully branded towel nearby, there’s a good chance it’ll disappear the moment Swiatek walks off court.
“Iga strikes again! No towel is safe,” one fan joked on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a freeze-frame of the moment she stashed it away. Another chimed in, “Forget trophies, she’s collecting towels like Pokémon cards.”
To be fair, Swiatek isn’t the only tennis star with a fondness for the sport’s most coveted swag. Wimbledon towels, in particular, have become a hot item for both players and fans alike. Still, Swiatek’s habit has now become something of a lighthearted legend—and she’s clearly in on the joke.
When asked about it last year, Swiatek laughed and confessed: “They’re just… really nice towels. And also, great memories.”
Her fans agree. With her down-to-earth charm and quiet rebellious streak, Iga has turned something as mundane as a towel into part of her mystique. Some even suspect the towels have become a lucky charm of sorts—after all, she tends to win whenever she nabs one.
The latest “incident” has only deepened the legend. While there’s no official Wimbledon rule forbidding players from taking towels (many actually do), it’s the stealthy way Iga handles it—with a mischievous smile and a look over the shoulder—that has fans howling with amusement.
Whether it’s part of her ritual, a souvenir hoarding habit, or simply Iga being her cheeky, towel-loving self, one thing’s for sure—no towel is safe when Swiatek is around.
And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.