By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Saturday, July 6, 2024
Yulia Putintesva upset World No. 1 Iga Świątek on the same day two-time finalist Ons Jabeur lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina.
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
The Wimbledon women’s draw got even more wide open as two of the biggest names in tennis found themselves exiting the All-England Club. As of now, 18 of the 32 women’s singles seeds have lost already.
Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan stunned World No. 1 Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the fourth round and further add to Swiatek’s recent woes at Wimbledon.
On the same day, No. 21 seed Elina Svitolina knocked 2022 and 2023 finalist and No. 10 seed Ons Jabeur 6-1, 7-6(4) to reach the fourth round and end the Tunsian’s dream this year of winning her favorite major.
The current World No. 35 Putintseva ended Swiatek’s 21-match win streak that included recently winning her fourth Roland Garros title. Though Putintesva lost the first set, she played confident tennis for the next two sets. For Swiatek, her level dropped and, at times, she looked unsure of how to halt her opponent’s surge.
At one stage, ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs said of Swiatek, “She looks very lost.”
Swiatek committed 38 unforced errors compared to only 15 for Putintseva, who recently won her first grass court title in Birmingham.
Despite losing the first set, Putintseva cleaned up her game especially in the final set where she only made three errors.
“I was playing fearless, I am extra happy because she didn’t lose it, I took it,” Putintseva said in press.
The loss for Swiatek continues the Polish star’s troubles on grass at Wimbledon. Despite having won five career majors, and reached 26-tour level finals, Swiatek has only reached the fourth round twice at Wimbledon in her career.
Putintseva will next face Jelena Ostapenko for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Svitolina Soars Over Jabeur
Elina Svitolina played a near perfect match from start to finish as she saw off two-time finalist Ons Jabeur.
Svitolina, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, got off to a strong start in the opening set as she played aggressive baseline tennis. Jabeur could not get her game going at all and soon Svitolina wrapped up the first set 6-1.
Svitolina had 10 winners and just two unforced errors in the set compared to 10 winner and 11 unforced errors for her opponent. Jabeur, after a tough opening service hold in the second set, raised her level and managed to make it an entertaining contest.
Yet Svitolina remained potent on the baseline, especially on her forehand side, as she stepped into the court to rip winner after winner. Jabeur had her chance though to force things into a decider late in the second set.
Leading 6-5,Jabeur earned her first break point of the match and with it a set point. Yet Jabeur just missed on a down the line forehand that missed the line. From there, Svitolina sent it into a tiebreak and never looked back. Svitolina eventually secured the 6-1, 7-6(4) victory putting her back into the fourth round.
“Not easy to play against a great champion like Ons. She had two great finals here and she’s always tricky to play against on the grass so for me it was important to play one point at a time,” Svitolina said after the match.
“She really played a great match. I didn’t play my best. I had my chances to comeback, but it’s tennis,” Jabeur said afterwards.
Svitolina will next face China’s Wang Xinyu.
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images