10-match grand slam runs ends as World no.1 Iga Swiatek crashes out of the Australian Open after stunning straight sets upset loss to Elena Rybakina
- Elena Rybakina has beaten world No.1 Iga Swiatek at Australian Open
- Wimbledon champion, 23, triumphed 6-4 6-4 over tournament favourite
- Rybakina will next face 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has ousted world No.1 Iga Swiatek from the Australian Open with a stunning fourth-round victory at Rod Laver Arena.
Swiatek was the hot favourite to claim her first Melbourne Park title and fourth grand slam crown but had no answers to the big-serving 22nd seed Rybakina, who triumphed 6-4 6-4 on Sunday.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina (pictured) has ousted world No.1 Iga Swiatek from the Australian Open with a stunning fourth-round victory at Rod Laver Arena
Swiatek (pictured) was the hot favourite to claim her first Melbourne Park title and fourth grand slam crown but had no answers to the big-serving 22nd seed Rybakina, who triumphed 6-4 6-4 on Sunday
The 23-year-old will next face 17th seed and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who eliminated world No.7 Coco Gauff 7-5 6-3 in another big upset.
Rybakina had never gone further than the Open’s third round before this year but showed impressive poise when it mattered, including winning the second set after trailing 3-0.
In reaching the quarter-finals, Rybakina also snapped defending French and US Open champion Swiatek’s 10-match winning run at grand slams.
‘It was a really tough match and I really respect Iga because of the streak she had at the grand slams,’ Rybakina said.
Rybakina (pictured) had never gone further than the Open’s third round before this year but showed impressive poise when it mattered, including winning the second set after trailing 3-0
‘She’s a young player and she plays really well.
‘Today I was serving really good, just struggling on one side but I think in the important moments I played really well so it made a big difference.
‘I’m nervous every time I go on the court, like everybody. But I’m calm always.
‘It’s a big win and I’m just happy to get to another round.’
Rybakina’s No.22 seeding is somewhat deceptive as she did not receive any ranking points for her Wimbledon triumph last year.
The WTA and ATP withheld all points at Wimbledon after the All England Club banned players from Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Rybakina’s No.22 seeding is somewhat deceptive as she did not receive any ranking points for her Wimbledon triumph last year
Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina won 80 per cent of her first-serve points but got off to the perfect start when she broke Swiatek’s serve in the first game and never looked back as she claimed the opening set.
Swiatek, 21, fought back immediately in the second set, breaking Rybakina to race out to a 3-0 lead.
But Rybakina got the set back on serve, then broke Swiatek at 4-4 before coolly serving out the match.
It is the third time Swiatek, last year’s semi-finalist, has departed Melbourne Park in the fourth round.
It is the third time Swiatek, last year’s semi-finalist, has left Melbourne Park in the fourth round
Ostapenko, 25, then closed out victory over Gauff in impressive style to reach the quarter-finals at a slam for the first time since her 2018 Wimbledon semi-final appearance.
‘I really had nothing to lose so I just went there and tried to show my best and fight for every point and make it hard for her and I’m really happy with the win,’ the Latvian said.
‘At the end I think I kept her under so much pressure and it brought me a win.’
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