World number one Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning run has ended after a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Alize Cornet in the third round at Wimbledon.
The French star stunned Swiatek on Court One as the dominant Pole failed to find her rhythm and has been swiftly dumped out of Wimbledon as a result. Swiatek came into the tournament as the runaway World No. 1 and reigning French Open champion.
It also means her 37-match winning run is over, which was the longest unbeaten streak seen in women's tennis this century. Remarkably, it is the third time Cornet has beaten a current World No. 1, including when she defeated Serena Williams in the third round at Wimbledon in 2014.
The 21-year-old was ultimately defeated following an inspired performance by 37th-ranked Cornet, who kept her composure to streak towards a famous win. The result is perhaps the biggest upset of the 2022 edition of the Championships so far.
Swiatek was in imperious form heading into the SW19 tournament, breaking the record for longest WTA Tour winning streak this century when she passed Venus Williams for her 36th win when she defeated Jana Fett. She claimed her 37th win in Round Two but win number 38 proved to be a bridge too far.
Cornet rushed into a 3-0 lead with a stunning double break and the 32-year-old held on to take the first set 6-4. Swiatek had a better start to the second set when she broke and moved 2-0 up, but she collapsed and failed to win another game.
It was a dominant performance from the French star. She dominated Swiatek, winning more first and second serves and break points as well as committing fewer unforced errors.
Cornet also won 69 points in the match to Swiatek's 51 to cap off a dominant performance. She will face Australian Ajla Tomljanović, who Emma Raducanu faced - and had to retire against - at the same stage last year.
After her stunning win, Cornet said: “I have no words right now - it reminds me of the time I beat Serena [Williams] on the same court eight years ago exactly. This court is a lucky charm for me.
Who you think will win Wimbledon now that Iga Swiatek is out? Let us know in the comments section.
“I am a huge fan of Iga [Swiatek], she's so talented and an amazing player and nice ambassador of women's tennis so I'm very flattered I beat her today.
“This kind of match is what I live for, what I'm practicing for, it drives me and I knew I could do it. I had this belief even with her wins, I thought there is a moment you can beat her it's now on grass so I was just believing very hard and I have the best team by my side and the best crowd. I guess I like the upsets, it's a really nice feeling right now and I need to process because I still feel like I'm playing I'm not completely realising what I've done.
“I’m like good wine, in France good wine always ages well, that's what's happened to me. It's unreal - I'm playing one of the best seasons of my career I feel great on the court, I'm having so much fun I feel good physically, eight years after my first qualification into the second week I can say I'm still there I'm still so motivated and I still have the fire in me and I hope you guys enjoyed the match.”
