Image Source: The Sport Review
Iga Swiatek of Poland ranked No. 1 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association, lost to Alizé Cornet of France at Wimbledon on Saturday, snapping a streak of 37 victories.
Iga Swiatek, who fell to Cornet in a third-round encounter, 6-4 6-2, started slowly and dropped the first three games before pushing to win the next two. The following four games would be divided between the two, although Cornet would ultimately take the set.
When Swiatek, 21, seized a 2-0 lead in the second set, it appeared that the tide had turned. However, Cornet swiftly regained control, winning the next six games to win the match.
“Actually, I tend to be very critical of myself. Here, I am familiar with how I felt prior to games and during practices. I didn’t feel in the best form, so I’m conscious that this may happen, let’s say.” Swiatek commented on the winning streak after the game.
The 37-match winning streak by the two-time grand slam champion from Poland, which began in February, was tied for the longest since Martina Hingis in 1997.
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“I’m at a loss for words at the moment. It makes me think of eight years ago today when I defeated Serena on the same court. For me, this court is a charm,” after the victory, Cornet stated.
The Frenchwoman reached her first grand slam round of 16 in 2014 after defeating then-No. 1 Serena Williams on Court One. With the victory, Cornet raises her career record against world no. 1s to 4-3.
The next opponent for Cornet, who is playing in her 62nd straight major match, is Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic on Monday.
Swiatek defeated Jana Fett 6-0 6-3 on Tuesday on Centre Court to win her 36th game in a row. The match, her first since the French Open, Iga Swiatek easily defeated Fett in the first set, but she struggled in the second set when Fett came dangerously close to securing a double break.
After a difficult start to the set, the top seed rebounded and won five straight games to extend her winning streak to 36 matches.
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