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Iga Świątek crashes out of Wimbledon in shock third round loss to Yulia Putintseva

Świątek had not lost a match for almost three months, a run that included a dominant French Open win, and it initially seemed that the Pole’s streak would continue when she took the first set 6-3. But world No. 35 Putintseva rallied and dropped just three games in the next two sets to seal a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory.

Afterwards, Świątek admitted that she knows “what I need to change” for her Wimbledon preparations after another underwhelming tournament where her best result still remains reaching the quarterfinals in 2023.

Świątek didn’t play any warm-up tournaments on grass after her impressive clay court season and added that on grass she needs “to keep patient and accept some mistakes.”

“For me going from this kind of tennis where I felt like I’m playing the best tennis in my life to another surface where I kind of struggle a little bit more, it’s not easy,” she added.

Her opponent Putintseva, meanwhile, has enjoyed an undefeated grass court season, won her first title on the surface in Birmingham last month and has now reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first ever time.Glimpses of Putintseva’s skill on grass began flickering in the first set as she produced shots like a perfectly judged backhand crosscourt passing shot that frustrated Świątek or a delicate slice return winner to save set point.