"Can't lose to Jelena Ostapenko if you don't play her, big brain move" - Fans react to Iga Swiatek's shock Wimbledon 2024 3R loss

Iga Swiatek faced a shock defeat in the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships against Yulia Putintseva. The Kazakh outclassed the World No. 1 in three sets. Fans were disappointed by Swiatek's early exit in the grasscourt Slam.

Swiatek, who did not play any preparatory tournaments before Wimbledon, looked in fine form initially, winning her first two matches in straight sets. Against Putintseva in the third round, the Pole started brightly and won the first set comfortably.

However, from the second set onwards, Kazakh levelled up and Swiatek faltered. After 1-1 in the second set, Putintseva won nine games in a row, leading 4-0 in the decider. The World No. 1 ultimately lost the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Putintseva will take on Jeleena Ostapenko in the fourth round at SW19. Swiatek has faced Ostapenko in four matches on tour so far, losing all. Fans jested that the World No. 1 lost in the third round to avoid another confrontation with Ostapenko.

"Iga smart to bow out early to avoid Ostapenko," one fan wrote on Reddit.

"Can't lose to Ostapenko if you don't play her. Big brain moves by Iga," another fan wrote.

Comment byu/padfoony from discussion intennis

One fan praised Putintseva for her 'flawless' performance in the last two sets. They wrote,

"Talk all you want about Iga on grass but my word was Putinsteva flawless. She was beating everyone in the world with that level,"

Here are some more fan reactions to Swiatek's loss.

"I truly want Iga to win Wimbledon one day, but grass is her kryptonite," one fan wrote.

"That first set was a bit misleading," another fan wrote.

"Iga the unforced error machine... I guess she won't sleep well tonight," a third fan wrote.

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Yulia Putintseva took inspiration from her Wimbledon 2019 performance against Naomi Osaka to defeat Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek leaves the Centre Court after losing to Yulia Putintseva at Wimbledon (IMAGE: GETTY)

In 2019, Yulia Putintseva was up against the then No.1 Naomi Osaka in the first round of Wimbledon. The Kazakh pulled off a shock victory at SW19 in straight sets.

Against Iga Swiatek on Saturday, July 6, Putintseva inspired herself through that performance five years ago.

"I was thinking during the match that I beat the World No.1 on grass," she said during her post-match interview.

Swiatek was on a 21-match win streak before the loss against Putintseva. The Pole still owns an exceptional 45-5 record this season and will move on to prep for the Olympics now. The games will begin on July 27.