Sensation on the Rod Laver Arena, the Czech Linda Noskova (19 years old; 50 world) overthrows Iga Swiatek, the Polish world No. 1. Swiatek led 6-3, controlled until 3-3 in the 2nd set when having a break point, she suddenly saw the scenario stutter.
This is the quickest elimination of a number 1 seed at the Australian Open since 1979, when Virginia Ruzici lost to Mary Sawyer in the first round, and the first time since that the tournament became a draw of 128 players in 1988 that the number 1 seed in the women’s draw did not reach the round of 16.
The Polish Iga Swiatek had not been eliminated so early in a Grand Slam tournament since her disappearance in the 3rd at Wimbledon in 2022.
After the eliminations of Ons Jabeur, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula, the women’s draw saw a new surprise emerge. And women’s tennis, asserting itself as a new star. Noskova will experience her first round of 16 in a Grand Slam after having won the best victory of her young career.
Linda Noskova (10 aces; 35 winning points) will meet the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina or the Swiss Viktorija Golubic for a place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.