Australian Open 2024: Iga Swiatek stunned by Linda Noskova in third round

Sport 20 January, 2024 12:00

World number one Iga Swiatek is out of the Australian Open after being stunned by Czech 19-year-old Linda Noskova in the third round.

The Pole, 22, had looked in control but the highly-rated Noskova fought back to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

In the decider the world number 50's power rocked Swiatek, who struggled and was hampered by forehand errors.

"I'm speechless," said Noskova, who has reached the fourth round of a major for the first time.

"Obviously I knew it was going to be an amazing match with the world number one but I didn't really think it would end up like this.

"I'm just really glad to get through this round."

Noskova was also playing in the main draw in Melbourne for the first time, having lost in qualifying as an 18-year-old last year, as well as making her first appearance on the tournament's main show court.

She fell to the floor in disbelief after converting her first match point following a tight third set.

She broke serve for 2-1 in the decider only for Swiatek to up her intensity and level, but that proved to be a false dawn for the world number one, who was broken again at 4-3.

The four-time Grand Slam champion applied pressure at 30-30 when Noskova served for the match but the Czech fired down an ace before a big first serve helped her wrap up the win.

The loss also ended Swiatek's 18-match unbeaten run, which stretched back to September.

Swiatek's exit follows second-round defeats for third seed Elena Rybakina, fifth seed Jessica Pegula and sixth seed Ons Jabeur, with only three of the top 10 seeds - defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, US Open winner Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova - left in the draw.

Noskova will play 19th seed Elina Svitolina or Viktorija Golubic next.