Iga Świątek suffers unexpected exit from wimbledon in third round defeat to Yulia Putintseva
Iga Świątek's extraordinary winning streak came to a sudden halt at Wimbledon as she was defeated by Yulia Putintseva in a surprising third-round loss. Ranked world No. 1, Świątek had been victorious in 21 consecutive matches, including a remarkable triumph at the French Open. Despite winning the first set 6-3, the Pole couldn't maintain her dominance as Putintseva, ranked No. 35, rallied back to win the next two sets decisively, securing a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory. SSP reported.
In the aftermath of her defeat, Świątek acknowledged the areas she needs to work on in preparation for future Wimbledon tournaments. Dissatisfied with her performance and feeling drained, she confessed that she failed to allow herself enough time to rest after the grueling French Open. Determined to learn from her mistakes, the talented player vowed not to repeat this error in the future.
Unlike her opponent, Putintseva had a victorious grass court season, winning her first title on the surface in Birmingham and now advancing to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in her career. Throughout the match, glimpses of Putintseva's prowess on grass were evident, particularly as she executed impressive shots that frustrated Świątek. The Kazakh player displayed resilience and an ability to break down her opponent's game, ultimately accumulating only 15 unforced errors compared to Świątek's 38.
For Putintseva, this triumphant performance came as a result of fearlessness and unwavering belief in her abilities. Her coach's advice to fully commit to each shot and trust her instincts proved to be instrumental in her victory. She will now face Jelena Ostapenko to compete for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, in other matches, Novak Djokovic overcame a slow start to defeat Alexei Popyrin, securing a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory. Djokovic will now face Holger Rune in the fourth round.