Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek admitted that “s**t happens” after her title defence came to a stunning end with a straight-sets defeat to Alexandra Eala in the third round on Saturday, July 4.
The Polish star, seeded third, went down 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 on Centre Court as 21-year-old Eala produced one of the biggest upsets of the Championships. The victory made the Filipina the first player from her country to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles event, underlining her rapid rise on the WTA Tour.
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Swiatek, who lifted her maiden Wimbledon title last year with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Amanda Anisimova in the final, struggled to find her rhythm after letting a fiercely contested opening-set tiebreak slip away.
Reflecting on the loss, the six-time Grand Slam champion pointed to uncharacteristic errors at the net.
“Yeah, sometimes it was like that. I can’t really explain the mishits on the drive volleys because I usually play those shots well. So, yeah, s**t happens,” Swiatek said in her post-match press conference.
SWIATEK RUES MISSED CHANCES
Although disappointed with the result, Swiatek found positives in the way she battled after falling behind early in the contest.
“I’m happy with how I came back in the tiebreak and also after going a break down in the first set because I feel like in Paris, I would have lost it in straight sets. I was there to fight, but it wasn’t enough. For sure, I could have played a little better, but she also played great. She took her chances and went for it,” Swiatek said.
The former World No. 1 acknowledged that Eala showed greater courage when the match reached its defining moments, especially during the marathon first-set tiebreak that shifted the momentum decisively in the Filipina’s favour.
“In the tiebreak, I remember that when it got tight, I slowed down a bit. She was brave enough to play a little faster. You need to be brave at Wimbledon to win those points.
“It was hard for me to find the right balance between the pace that has cost me some matches this year because I was playing too fast and staying solid. I didn’t find that balance today, and I lost. She played better in the important moments,” Swiatek added.
FEARLESS EALA CONTINUES DREAM RUN
Eala once again showcased the fearless baseline tennis that has marked her breakthrough season. The left-hander edged an absorbing first set in an 11-9 tiebreak before racing through the second set, repeatedly forcing errors from the defending champion with aggressive groundstrokes.
She will now face 2024 Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round as she looks to extend her dream campaign.
For Swiatek, the defeat ends an unexpectedly short title defence and raises further questions about her search for consistency after an otherwise glittering career that includes six Grand Slam singles titles.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
