Garcia shocks Swiatek in Warsaw, handing the world No 1 her first loss on clay in 2022

What an upset! Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, the No 5 seed, reached the semi-finals of the Poland Open by edging out Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 at Legia Tenis & Golf in Warsaw on Friday evening.

It’s Iga Swiatek’s first defeat on clay in 2022. The world No 1 had won her last 18 matches on the surface since the beginning of the year, including a thrilling run to her second major title at Roland-Garros this spring.

Caroline Garcia is only the third player in the last 52 weeks who has won a set by 6-1 versus Iga Swiatek. The other two were Danielle Collins (AO 2022) and Jelena Ostapenko (Dubai 2022).

The former world No 4 is also the first French female player to earn a clay-court victory against the world No 1-ranked player since Mary Pierce at Roland Garros in 2005, who defeated American Lindsay Davenport

Garcia, ranked No 45, will play Italian Jasmine Paolini, the No 10 seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the Frenchwoman beat Japanese Misaki Doi (7-5, 6-4) and Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto (6-3, 7-5).

Swiatek, ranked No 1, won against Magdalena Frech (6-1, 6-2) and Romanian lucky loser Gabriela Lee (6-3, 6-2) in the previous rounds.

Warsaw WTA 250, other last eight matches (Legia Tenis & Golf , clay, USD 251.750, most recent results first):

• Kateryna Baindl (LL) beat Petra Martic (8): 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Jasmine Paolini beat Viktorija Golubic: 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
• Ana Bogdan beat Laura Pigossi (LL): 6-1, 6-1

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