Vintage show as Alize ends Swiatek reign
WORLD No.1
Iga Swiatek was flattened by a vintage performance from veteran Alize Cornet, who claimed she’s ageing like a fine wine.
Cornet, 32, was the toast of Court One as the French giantkiller ended the Pole’s stranglehold over the women’s game.
Swiatek (inset), twice a French Open winner and their reigning champion, was on this century’s longest winning run of 37 games.
But she was no match for Cornet, who produced a corking display to storm into the fourth round with a 6-4 6-2 win in 93 minutes of aggressive action.
Cornet, a proven toppler of big names after defeating Serena Williams at the same stage in 2014, was on top from the start and went on to complete the biggest upset of the Championships so far.
“I’m like good wine, in France good wine always ages well, that’s what’s happened to me,” she said.
“It’s unreal – I’m playing one of the best seasons of my career.
“I feel great on the court, I’m having so much fun and I feel good physically.
“Eight years after my first qualification into the second week I can say I’m still there, I’m still so motivated and I still have the fire in me.”
That was evident as she stormed into a 3-0 lead to catch Swiatek cold. The Pole partially recovered but went down 6-4.
Swiatek jumped 2-0 ahead in the second set but Cornet was a hurricane, blowing the top seed away with forceful groundstrokes and penetrating serves in her 62nd consecutive Grand Slam.
That followed another upset after world No.12 Coco Gauff was beaten
7-6 2-6 -6-1 in two hours seven minutes of compelling action by fellow American Amanda Anisimova.
French Open runner-up Gauff had taken a marathon 64 minute first set
7-4 on a tie break.
But that was as good as it got for the 18-yearold, the youngest player ranked in the top 100 women. Anisimova roared through the second set then eclipsed
Gauff 6-1 in the third to clinch victory before lying on the turf sobbing as the reality of her victory – her 28th win of the year – sank in.
Two-time Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova was also dumped out 7-5 7-6 (7-4) as Spanish fourth seed Paula Badosa powered into the fourth round.
Badosa will play another former SW19 champion Simona Halep in the next round after she convincingly beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-4 6-1.