Swiatek's Wimbledon Hopes Crushed by Putintseva Upset

Iga Swiatek's remarkable 21-match winning streak came to an abrupt end at Wimbledon on Saturday, as the world number one suffered a shock third-round defeat to Yulia Putintseva. The top seed's hopes of a first Wimbledon title were dashed in a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 loss to the Russian-born Kazakh.

Swiatek's struggles at the All England Club continued, as she has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in her previous appearances. The 21-year-old admitted that the strain of her recent French Open triumph, where she claimed her fourth title at Roland Garros, had taken its toll.

"For sure, I felt like my energy level went down little bit in the second set. I couldn't really get back up," Swiatek said. "My tank of really pushing myself to the limits became suddenly empty. I was kind of surprised. But I know what I did wrong after Roland Garros. I didn't really rest properly."

Swiatek's defeat was a major upset, as she had been the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament. However, Putintseva played with determination and resilience, taking advantage of Swiatek's fatigue and errors.

The Kazakh player, who had previously lost to Swiatek in straight sets at Indian Wells earlier this year, was delighted with her victory. "I totally let her come back to the game in the second set. I shouldn't have done that," Swiatek said. "I made some mistakes, as well. But for sure, she used her chance."

Swiatek's loss raises questions about her ability to maintain her dominance on different surfaces. The Polish star has been unstoppable on clay, but she has struggled to replicate that form on grass and hard courts.

"I was playing fearless," Putintseva said. "I have nothing to lose, just go for it. She didn't lose it. I took it."

Swiatek's defeat is a reminder that even the best players can be vulnerable when they are not at their peak. The world number one will now have to regroup and prepare for the upcoming hard-court season, where she will be looking to defend her US Open title.

Tags: #Wimbledon, #IgaSwiatek, #YuliaPutintseva, #Tennis, #Upset