Iga Swiatek crashes out in huge upset as Linda Noskova claims inspired victory at Australian Open

Iga Swiatek has exited the Australian Open in just the third round, her tough draw finally doing for the No. 1 seed.

She was beaten in three sets by Linda Noskova for her earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2022. It was the Czech world No. 50’s first ever third-round match at a Grand Slam.

Noskova emerged from the bruising encounter to win through in three sets, 3-6 6-3 6-4, for the biggest win of her career to date.

The 19-year-old will play Elina Svitolina next as the women’s draw continues to open up, with Swiatek joining Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur on an early flight home.

It didn’t look like being an upset when Swiatek took the opening set 6-3 with just the one break of serve, the Pole’s ground strokes and relentless pressure doing the business.

Swiatek seemed unruffled with the conditions in her first night session of the week, adjusting to the speed of the court and hitting big winners from both wings as she absorbed all the pace Noskova threw at her.

It hadn’t been an easy week for the world No. 1, having battled past former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and former Grand Slam finalist Danielle Collins before coming up against a player that looks to have top 20 potential in Noskova.

To say the draw had been unkind to Swiatek would be an understatement – but that takes nothing away from the quality of tennis that Noskova produced on the biggest of stages.

“I was a little shaky, obviously. I didn’t hit two first serves but I pulled out an ace but it’s tough sometimes to bring it,” said Noskova after she closed out that final set.

“[My team] help me a lot, they were supporting me and I’m so glad I can have this for all of us.”

The 19-year-old lost in straight sets when she faced Swiatek last year in Warsaw, but since then has beaten countrywoman Petra Kvitova and talented teen Mirra Andreeva and came into the Australian Open off the back of a semi-final in Brisbane.

With her unforced error count growing and Swiatek looking solid, the match didn’t appear likely to be turning into the drama-filled encounter it wound up being – but Noskova found a brilliant cross-court winner to escape an early tough game at 2-2 in the second and didn’t look back from there.

She got the one break at 4-3 with Swiatek finally starting to look tired, and served out the set with no sign of nerves.

Swiatek took an extended break off-court to change her clothes following the realisation that she was heading into another deciding set, with Noskova cutting a frustrated figure as she knew her momentum had been stalled.

The teenager belied her lack of slam experience to put that delay behind her and break Swiatek’s serve early on for a 2-1 lead as the crowd began to shuffle and murmur, knowing an upset was brewing. But then there was a short stoppage as someone was taken unwell in the crowd – and that helped Swiatek collect her thoughts.

She broke straight back – but that didn’t end the drama. Swiatek’s first serve deserted her – and so did her accuracy. Noskova soon had more break points, with the Pole being given a warning for time violations to boot. And as Swiatek ploughed a forehand deep into the bottom of the net, Noskova was ahead yet again.

This time the Czech player managed to hang onto her serve for a 5-3 lead in the decider, Swiatek forcing her to serve it out by holding her next game. But serve it out she did, for the biggest win of her fledgling career to date as once again the strength in depth in the women’s game continues to astound.

Noskova heads into her first ever Grand Slam fourth round, but for Swiatek there will be questions to answer as she reflects on some missed opportunities in Melbourne.