AO 2024 Women’s Day 7

Iga Swiatek hit a roadblock in her bid for the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday as the world No. 1 crashed to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 upset loss to Czech Linda Noskova.

The 50th-ranked winner, playing the main draw here for the first time, broke twice in the deciding third set , with top seed Swiatek recovering the first saving the first but unable to repeat on the second.

Serving for victory leading 5-4, the 19-year-old Czech winner admitted to a case of jitters.

“I was a little shaky after missing two first serves, but then I pulled out an ace (to earn match point),” she said. Swiatek then drove a return long to lose after nearly two and a half hours 

It was the Pole’s earliest loss in a major since a pair of second-round defeats in 2019.

“I’m speechless, I knew it would be an amazing match with No. 1 – but I didn’t really think it would end like this.

“I’m so glad to get through this one.”

Zheng Qinwen, the 12th seed won an all-China battle over Wang Yefan 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), victory coming 48 hours after Wang took down half-Chinese former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Zheng served for victory leading 5-4 in the third set but was unable to close out the match.

She finally prevailed in the match tiebreaker as Wang missed a volley on second match point.

‘It was a really difficult tiebreak, we were both giving our best,” the winner said. as she prepared for a fourth round against Oceane Dodin, who beat French compatriot Clara Burel 6-2, 6-4.

“I’m so happy to win this match, Wang is a solid player who never gives up. I won this match, it’s unbelievable.”

Watching with interest  was China’s 2014 champion here, Li Na, in town for the legend event.

“It was a total surprise for me. I was feeling super happy to meet her and have the chance to talk with her.

“It was really special for me.”

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka fought back from 4-1 down in the second set after claiming the first from Jelena Ostapenko, coming through on her first match point to earn a 6-1, 7-5 trip into the second week.

But the winner had to work for victory, saving four break points – three of them with aces – in the final game before her Latvian opponent sent a return into the net to lose after 84 minutes.

“Jelena is a great player,  very dangerous and a Grand Slam champion,” Azarenka said.

“I knew she’s coming off a really good form (Adelaide title). 

“I knew I had to start my match strong and try to put as much pressure as I can to not let her dictate the play. I think I did that really well in the first set.”

The 34-year-old Azarenka is playing Melbourne for the 16th time and has never lost to Ostapenko in four matches.

Anna Kalinskaya increased the pain for 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, defeating the American 6-7 (8), 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday for a fourth-round place in the Australian Open.

Stephens, ranked 44th to her opponent’s 75th, reached the semi-finals here 11 years ago, but has also lost in the first round at the previous four editions here.

Victory for Kallnskaya took two and three-quarter hours, with the pair almost matching it on winners – 46 to 44 for Kalinskaya.

But 33 unforced errors off the Stephens racquet made the difference, with her opponent making only 15. 

The American was bidding to reach the second week of a Slam for the 17th time in her career.

Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska beat weekend Hobart champion and winner of her last seven matches Emma Navarro 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

Yastremska knocked out reigning Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round; she is into the second week of a Slam for the first time in five years (Wimbledon 2019).

Italian Jasmine Paolini advanced past Anna Blinkova 7-6 (1), 6-4

Main photo:- Linda Noskova stuns No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek – by WTATennis.com