After surviving a tough first-set challenge against 2020 champ Sofia Kenin, and a perilous position in the third set against 2022 finalist Danielle Collins, Iga Swiatek could not withstand a third aggressive opponent with a stellar backhand.
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The world No.1 was stunned at Rod Laver Arena by 19-year-old Linda Noskova on Saturday night at Australian Open 2024, the result snapping her 18-match winning streak.
MORE: Noskova sends Swiatek packing
It is the earliest a No.1 seed has lost at the Australian Open in 45 years, dating back to when Virginia Ruzici fell in the first round of the 1979 tournament at Kooyong.
Noskova, one of a troupe of talented young Czechs, advances to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
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Swiatek, meanwhile, departs earlier at a major than she has at any time in the past 18 months; her third-round exit at Wimbledon in 2022 was followed by five consecutive trips to the second week of Slams.
“For sure I was more stressed than on other tournaments, especially first two rounds,” the Polish star admitted, following her 3-6 6-3 6-4 loss to the world No.50.
“But I think some things just didn't work as they did before, even though I was working the same way. I feel like I did really everything I could in pre-season to improve some stuff that I wanted to.
“Then I came here and I wasn't playing kind of natural anymore. I don't know, like my split step was too late sometimes. Reaction a little bit slower. Some other things.
“Basically, I was trying just to improve that. That was the only thing I kind of focused on. That's why it (my play) wasn't so natural as usually.”
Swiatek is one of the game’s greatest front-runners, making her loss from a set up especially jarring.
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In her past 68 completed matches during which she won the first set, she won 67 of them. The only player, prior to Noskova, to defeat her from set down in that span was Jelena Ostapenko at last year’s US Open.
Few saw this coming – and perhaps neither Swiatek did herself.
“I felt like I had everything under control until she broke me in the second set,” she said.
“(From there) she was kind of proactive. I wanted to do that as well later in the next games. Sometimes I was rushing it.
“Technically it didn't work. But I know I did everything I could. I have kind of no regrets.
“For sure I wish I could have played a little bit better in this tournament.”
A Roland Garros and US Open champion, Swiatek was asked about her comparative struggles at Melbourne Park, where she lost in the fourth round to Elena Rybakina 12 months ago. She suggested the court speed, which skews quicker.
This might have explained why a power player like Noskova thrived as she did against a giant of the game.
During that second set, where Swiatek felt she lost control, Noskova struck 15 winners to nine to send the match to a third. She finished the contest with 10 aces, including a brilliantly-timed thunderbolt in the final game to bring up her first match point – which she converted.
“It was tough to read her serve. I would say she kind of serves Sabalenka's, Rybakina's style in terms of the placement and the speed,” Swiatek assessed.
“I would say that I wasn't returning overall on this tournament the same way as usually, especially the second serves.
“I think she just went all in without any pressure. She probably knew that she has nothing to lose, you know?
“I lost but I'm going to have more tournaments. I remember just last year getting back to work. I could reset and just focus on next tournaments.
“So I'm going to do the same this year.”