Iga Swiatek's quest to conquer grass at Wimbledon was halted as she suffered a surprising defeat in the third round to Yulia Putinseva. Swiatek, the five-time major champion and world No. 1, was unable to maintain her early lead and fell to Putinseva in three sets.
Swiatek's loss ended her 21-match win streak and highlighted her relative inexperience on grass compared to other surfaces. Despite her dominance on clay, Swiatek struggled to adapt to Putinseva's game plan and speed on the grass court.
The defeat raises questions about Swiatek's ability to perform consistently on grass, as she has yet to win a grass tournament in her career. Her decision to skip lead-in events on grass this year to rest and recover after Roland Garros may have impacted her preparation for Wimbledon.
Putinseva's victory was a significant upset, as she had never won a set against Swiatek in their previous meetings. Her tactical changes and confidence on grass proved to be the difference in the match, as she outplayed Swiatek in the final two sets.
With other top contenders like Marketa Vondrousova and Aryna Sabalenka already eliminated from Wimbledon, the women's field remains wide open. Swiatek's defeat adds to the unpredictability of the tournament, with players like Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina emerging as potential contenders.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on players like Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu, who have shown strong performances leading up to the round of 16. The final week at Wimbledon promises to be exciting and full of surprises, as players vie for a chance to claim the prestigious title.
