"Stop this, she has years to win other Slams" - Fans defend Iga Swiatek against criticism of 'abysmal' record outside French Open after Wimbledon exit

Iga Swiatek's shock exit from the 2024 Wimbledon Championships in the third round on Saturday (July 6) has raised questions about her less-than-ideal record at Majors outside the French Open. However, fans have rushed to defend the World No. 1, emphasizing her impressive achievements compared to the other top players in the WTA rankings.

Although Swiatek made a strong start to her campaign with commanding straight-set wins over Sofia Kenin and Petra Martic in the initial rounds of the grasscourt Major, she faltered in her third-round clash against Yulia Puntintseva.

Despite dominating the opening set, the five-time Grand Slam champion showed signs of struggle as Putintseva raised her level, allowing the Kazakh to claim a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory and snap the Pole's remarkable 21-match winning streak.

Following her Wimbledon exit, tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg took to social media to analyze Iga Swiatek's recent results at the Majors. He pointed out that, apart from back-to-back titles at the French Open, the World No. 1 hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals in any Grand Slam event in her last seven campaigns.

"Iga Swiatek is far and away the clear WTA #1, but she’s only been dominant at one Slam recently," Rothenberg posted on X.

Another user also highlighted the 23-year-old's "abysmal" results at the other Majors outside the French Open, labeling her a "clay court specialist."

"I know grass is not Iga’s surface, but when do we start labeling her as merely a clay court specialist? Outside of her USO win in 2022, her GS results outside of RG are mostly abysmal," the user posted.

However, fans rushed to the World No. 1's defense, pointing out that she has won 13 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, including a Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. They emphasized that the Pole has a long career ahead with plenty of time to triumph at the other Majors.

"Players would love to even win a Grand Slam. Of course an American downplays Iga’s dominance in one slam which is by far impressive. Just like Osaka on the hard courts," one fan commented.

"Please can we stop this 😭 the girl has more hard court titles than clay court and is LITERALLY ONLY 22. she has plenty of years to win the other slams - considering she literally has an ao semi and a wimby qf," another fan chimed in.

"She's also still 23 years old. She won 22 tournaments,been no 1 for 110 weeks. Plenty of Wimbledons and other Slams ahead of her," said another.

Other fans also contended that Iga Swiatek's record still puts her above her closest competitors, like Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, all of whom have only won Grand Slam titles at one Major.

"Lol and what about it? Sabalenka only wins in Australia and other girls have just one slam each xD," one fan wrote.

"Okay but compared to other top girls she still has the best results? We all knew she was prioritizing the olympics this year so why is everyone acting wild?" another fan shared.

"'Only been dominant at one slam' sounds like a miracle on WTA tour outside of Serena in the last 10+ years," said another.

"Iga Swiatek didn't lose it; I took it" - Yulia Putintseva overjoyed with 'fearless' performance against Pole in Wimbledon 3R win

Iga Swiatek (Source: Getty)

Following her win over Iga Swiatek, Yulia Putintseva expressed delight at her "fearless" display in their third-round clash, disclosing that she followed her coach's advice of believing in herself wholeheartedly during the contest.

The Kazakh also emphasized her belief that the outcome wasn't a result of Swiatek losing the match but rather her own performance to wrest the win out of the Pole's hands.

"At some point I was playing fearless. I was just, I can do it, I have to believe 100 percent, I have nothing to lose, just go for it. Also my coach told me, no matter which shot you're doing, believe 100 percent and just follow," she said.

"It's when the turning point happened, I start to play really, really good. I think today I'm happy, extra happy, because she (Iga Swiatek) didn't lose it; I took it," she added.

After ousting Iga Swiatek from the grasscourt Major, Putintseva will square off against 13th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.