Iga Swiatek owns longest winning streak this century after first-round win

World number one Iga Swiatek went into the record books in style as she won her 36th match in a row with victory over Jana Fett on Centre Court.
Swiatek’s amazing streak, which goes back to February and has seen her win six tournaments, means it is the longest winning streak of the 21st century, overtaking Venus Willams’ record set in 2000.
The two-time French Open champion, a hot favourite for the SW19 crown, enjoyed the prestigious opening slot on Centre Court usually reserved for the defending champion and beat Croatian Fett 6-0 6-3.
Swiatek overwhelmed Fett in the first set but came to be heavily tested in the second stanza before extending her incredible streak.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/XlnSaVcLsE
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2022
Defending champion Ashleigh Barty’s retirement meant that Swiatek was given the honour of opening play on the main show court and she looked entirely at home, handing her opponent a 33-minute bagel.
This was the Pole’s first match since winning at Roland Garros and Fett, who has had an active warm-up on the grass, threatened a comeback as she led 3-1 in the second set.
She had three break points to make it 4-1, but Swiatek escaped and that was the end of it, as the Pole quickly rattled off five games in a row to continue her invincible streak.
Emma Raducanu seeks to embody the fighting spirit of Rafael Nadal
Swiatek has now matched the 36-match winning streak Monica Seles rattled off in 1990.
Meanwhile, a second-round win for the World No 1 would see her tie Martina Hingis’ season-opening 37-match winning run back in 1997.
Swiatek will next face Dutch lucky loser Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, who beat British wildcard Sonay Kartal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the second round of Wimbledon for the second time.
Number five seed Maria Sakkari made light work of Australian Zoe Hives, wining 6-1 6-4, but 14th seed Belinda Bencic is out, losing 6-4 5-7 6-2 to Wang Qiang in a match carried over from Monday.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals what it means to be ‘In Flow’
Stefanos Tsitsipas said: ‘It felt like I was in a cage and someone decided to unlock the cage and I suddenly felt free.’
-
Australian Open
Australian Open triumph sweetened by Aryna Sabalenka’s semi-final heartache
The Belarusian is the first grand slam singles champion playing under a neutral flag.
-
Tennis News
Elena Rybakina rues missed chances in Australian Open final defeat
Elena Rybakina was the first woman to take a set off Aryna Sabalenka this season but couldn’t match her intensity for two and a half hours.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka dedicates Australian Open trophy to her ‘crazy’ team
Aryna Sabalenka says her team deserve the Australian Open trophy more than she does.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka proves doubters wrong with emotional Grand Slam triumph
Aryna Sabalenka found another level to win brutal Australian Open final.
-
Tennis News
Aryna Sabalenka goes from underarm serving and 428 double faults in 2022 to mentality monster
Aryna Sabalenka has gone from underarm serving to coming up clutch in big moments.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka powers her way to Australian Open title with impressive win over Elena Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka is a Grand Slam champion!
-
Australian Open
Elena Rybakina’s coach Stefano Vukov under fire: ‘I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect’
Stefano Vukov hasn’t made too many friends with his behaviour during matches.
-
Australian Open
Third time lucky for Alfie Hewett as he sets sights on being ‘figurehead’ for wheelchair tennis
The 25-year-old from Norfolk won his maiden Australian Open wheelchair singles title.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic’s family ‘upset’ over flag uproar as Australian Open chief urges them ‘to be really careful’
“The family were very good. They were upset that it was taken that way.”