Swiatek, who lost to Cornet 6-4 6-2 in the third round, started slow in the opening set, dropping the first three games before fighting back and taking the next two. The two would split the next four games, but Cornet would eventually win the set.
In the second set, the momentum appeared to have shifted as 21-year-old Swiatek jumped to a 2-0 lead, but Cornet quickly regained control by winning the next six games and closing the game.
“Honestly, yes, most of the time I’m strict with myself. Here I know how I felt before competitions, I know how I felt when I was practicing. Let’s just say I didn’t feel like I was in the best form, so I’m kind of aware that this can happen,” Swiatek said after the game after the win.
The Polish two-time grand slam champion won with 37 games dating back to February, the longest standings since Martina Hingis in 1997.
“I have no words for it now. It reminds me of the time I beat Serena on the same field, exactly eight years ago. This field is a lucky charm for me,” said Cornet after the win.
In 2014, the Frenchwoman defeated then No. 1 Serena Williams in Court One to advance to her first round of 16 grand slam. With the win, Cornet improves to 4-3 in her career against world No. 1’s
Cornet will compete in her WTA record equaling 62nd consecutive major, then face Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic on Monday.
In Tuesday’s games at Center Court, Swiatek recorded her 36th straight win, beating Jana Fett 6-0 and 6-3. She dominated the first set against Fett in her first game since the French Open, but had a rough patch in the second as Fett came close to a double break.
The leading group recovered from the shaky start to the set and rattled five games in a row, taking its winning run to 36 games.