'I'm still learning' – Swiatek reflects after 18-match clay winning streak is ended

Iga Swiatek's lengthy unbeaten run on clay was brought to a surprise end by Caroline Garcia at the Poland Open on Friday.

The world number one succumbed to a 6-1 1-6 6-4 defeat to the fifth seed, who ended the French Open champion's 18-match winning streak on the dirt.

It was Garcia's first win over a top-ranked player and sent her into a semi-final against Jasmine Paolini after the Italian came from behind to beat Viktorija Golubic 1-6 6-2 6-2.

Swiatek said: "Maybe I wasn't as disciplined as in previous tournaments, but I'm happy. I felt like my brain didn't intuitively predict where the ball would go, but I'm still learning, right?

"The first two sets depended on her – whether or not she would be in control. At the end of the second she lost control and took advantage.

"In the third set, she got back to her game. But if I had a better first serve percentage, maybe it would have been different.

"I don't know what decision I will make next year. Maybe longer preparation [on clay] will be necessarily, or maybe I'll give up this tournament. We'll see."

2005 - Caroline Garcia is the first French female player to win a clay courts match against the #1 ranked player since Mary Pierce at the Roland Garros 2005, against Lindsay Davenport. Chapeau.@WTA_insider @WTA pic.twitter.com/Cy7AqvH9cy

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) July 29, 2022

Kateryna Baindl became the first lucky loser to reach a WTA Tour semi-final this year by overcoming Petra Martic 1-6 6-3 6-4. Next up for Baindl is Ana Bogdan, who beat Laura Pigossi 6-1 6-1.

World number two Anett Kontaveit was also on the receiving end of an upset, going down 6-1 6-1 to Anastasia Potapova in 49 minutes at the Prague Open.

Potapova will take on qualifier Wang Qiang for a place in the final, with Czech pair Marie Bouzkova and Linda Noskova – only the second female player born after 2004 to reach the last four of a WTA Tour tournament – in action on the other side of the draw.