Cornet gives Iga a licking
SWIATEK SHOCKER AS STREAK IS ENDED
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 Polish star’s record-breaking stranglehold on the women’s game.
Swiatek (right), twice a French Open winner and their reigning champion, was on this century’s longest winning run
– 37 matches and six tournaments.
But she was no match for Cornet who produced an incredible display to storm into the fourth round with a 6-4 6-2 win in 93 minutes of brutal 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 completed the biggest upset of the Championships so far.
The world No.37 was clearly delighted to be in the last 16.
Cornet bubbled: “It reminds me of the time I beat Serena on the same court eight years ago exactly.
“This court is a lucky charm for me. I am a huge fan of Iga, she’s so talented, an amazing player and ambassador, so I’m very flattered I beat her today.
“This kind of match is what I live for, what I’m practising for, it drives me. I knew I could do it. I had this belief even with her wins.
“I thought if there is a moment you can beat her it’s now on grass. I was believing very hard.
“I guess I like the upsets, it’s a nice feeling but I need to process this as I still feel like I’m playing and not realising what I’ve done.
“I’m like good wine, in France good wine always ages well, that’s what’s happened to me. 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, I feel good physically.
“Eight years after my first qualification into the second week I can say I’m still there 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 came after world No.12 Coco Gauff was beaten 7-6 2-6 6-1 by fellow American Amanda Anisimova in two hours seven minutes of compelling action.
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-year-old, the youngest player ranked in the top 100.
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 SW19 champion Petra Kvitova was also dumped out, 7-5 7-6 (7-4) by Spain’s Paula Badosa, the fourth seed.