Prime seed Iga Swiatek was eradicated from the Australian Open on Saturday as she misplaced 3-6 6-3 6-4 to Czech teenager Linda Noskova within the third spherical in one of many main upsets of the match.
The loss additionally brings to finish Swiatek’s 17-match successful streak relationship again to September final yr and is the earliest loss by a No.1 seed on the match since 1979.
Swiatek had appeared removed from her dominating self on this occasion with the Pole enduring a first-set tiebreak in her opener in opposition to Sofia Kenin earlier than combating again from the brink of defeat to oust Danielle Collins within the second spherical.
🚨 UPSET 🚨
🇨🇿 Linda Noskova knocks out World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to proceed her profession greatest Grand Slam run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vWd8WM5Qsa
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 20, 2024
She, nevertheless, began effectively in third spherical in opposition to the 19-year-old Noskova when she broke within the sixth sport and held to like within the subsequent to take cost. After that she barely let the depth drop after taking the primary set as she pressured her opponent into uncomfortable positions within the second by working the angles and launching massive forehands.
However the Czech held agency, responding with some explosive hitting of her personal and breaking en path to levelling up the competition earlier than heaping the stress on the four-times main champion to take a 2-1 lead within the decider.
This was not a part of the script 📝
Linda Noskova takes the second set in opposition to No.1 seed Iga Swiatek 6-3 😲#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/xqeSDlCteE
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2024
Swiatek appeared to have composed herself throughout a quick pause in play as medical doctors attended to a sick supporter within the crowd and broke again, however Noskova didn’t relent and acquired her nostril in entrance once more to shut out the match on serve and full an enormous upset.
This was the newest within the string of upsets on this version of the Australian Open with Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, Ons Jabeur and Andy Murray already eradicated from the match.
(With Company inputs)