John McEnroe left red-faced after cutting off Clare Balding during BBC Wimbledon coverage

BBC commentator Clare Balding may be due an apology from John McEnroe after he shot down her prediction ahead of Iga Swiatek's Wimbledon final victory. The Pole made easy work of Amanda Anisimova in a historic 6-0, 6-0 triumph on Saturday to claim her first crown at SW19.

That scoreline was even more one-sided than the 6-2, 6-0 win Swiatek saw out in her semi-final clash against Belinda Bencic. Not that McEnroe envisioned things panning out that way in the slightest. He brashly shot down Balding's suggestion that fans could see a repeat whitewash should Swiatek once again summon her best on Centre Court. And in the end, that was precisely what happened.

"And that match against Bencic, she [Swiatek] just didn't put a foot wrong," said Balding minutes before Saturday's decider got underway. "I mean, that was near-perfect tennis. And if she plays like that [against Anisimova], this could be over very quickly."

One can understand why one would think Anisimova was capable of putting up a stiffer test after beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in her own semi. But McEnroe sounded particularly offended at the suggestion his fellow American could be brushed aside quite as easily.

"Totally different matchup. Completely different," the three-time Wimbledon champion cut in. "That ain't gonna happen. If that happens, I'll eat one of those pastas!"

The meal in question referred to Swiatek's guilty pleasure of choice at Wimbledon: a bowl of pasta and strawberries. The five-time Grand Slam champion revealed her cheat meal of choice earlier in the competition, urging viewers to give it a try before they condemn it.

Balding couldn't wait to see McEnroe eat the questionable concoction, along with his own words, as she replied: "The pasta with strawberry and yoghurt awaits!" And McEnroe would have to digest a healthy slice of humble pie on the side.

As it turned out Swiatek won the final in even more dominant fashion than her semi-final sweep of Bencic. Anisimova's defeat marked the first double-bagel result in a Wimbledon final since 1911.

That illustrates the rarity of the result in just how one-sided this decider really was. Commentators mentioned in real time how Anisimova looked stunned by the occasion as she made her debut in a Grand Slam final.

It was in stark contrast to her performance against Sabalenka, whom she toppled in an upset for the ages. And while Swiatek is well-versed on the Grand Slam stage, there was a sense Anisimova may have played her best match of the tournament in the semis.

One of the few benefits to come from her underwhelming display is the potential that McEnroe was forced to admit he was wrong in a big way. As a result, Swiatek won't have been the only one dining on pasta and strawberries as the dust settles on another Wimbledon classic.

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