World No. 1 Iga Swiatek's 21-match winning streak on clay crumbled at Wimbledon, as she was defeated by Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, in a match sprinkled with 38 unforced errors.

Despite her dominance on clay and a recent French Open victory, Swiatek's kryptonite once again turned out to be Wimbledon’s grass courts. Her 38 unforced errors opened the door for Putintseva, who had previously never taken a set from Swiatek, to turn the tables. While Swiatek retains her World No. 1 ranking, her infamous struggle on grass continues, now extending to six tournaments without reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon.

Swiatek started strong by winning the first set 6-3, offering a glimpse of the form that led her to five Grand Slam titles, including four triumphs at the French Open and one at the U.S. Open. But that was merely the calm before the storm.

In the second set, the tables turned faster than a tennis ball at 100 mph as Putintseva clawed her way to a 6-1 victory. Swiatek’s play unraveled with the frequency of unforced errors making spectators wonder if the grass court had a personal vendetta against her.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Swiatek struggling to find her rhythm. The 6-2 outcome in favor of Putintseva sealed Swiatek’s fate, marking an unexpected turn in her performance at Wimbledon. It seems Swiatek's rhythm is still on vacation.

It wasn’t just a bad day at the office for Swiatek; it was a nightmare. Her performance was marred with 38 unforced errors, a blunder-filled parade that deviated sharply from her usually meticulous gameplay.

Swiatek’s performances on grass have been a topic of discussion. Despite winning the Junior Wimbledon title as a teenager, the adult Swiatek has struggled to replicate this success on the senior circuit. Her decision to withdraw from the only grass-court warm-up event prior to Wimbledon raised eyebrows, leaving fans to wonder if she was just giving the grass a break from her dominance.

Putintseva, on the other hand, seized the opportunity presented by Swiatek's unforced generosity. Hailing from Kazakhstan, she showed no hesitation in capitalizing on every opening, securing her place in the fourth round where she'll face Jelena Ostapenko. It's almost as if Putintseva turned Swiatek’s unforced errors into her own winning serve.

Despite the early exit, Swiatek will not be losing sleep over her World No. 1 ranking, which remains intact regardless of the Wimbledon result. However, grass courts continue to be the thorn in her otherwise rosy Grand Slam record.

Ironically, Swiatek’s clay dominance, exemplified by her recent fourth French Open title, has yet to translate effectively to grass. Tennis pundits and fans alike are left questioning what changes Swiatek might need to make for her future Wimbledon campaigns.

Her record at Wimbledon stands in stark contrast to her clay court victories. Despite being unbeatable on clay, it seems Wimbledon has her on speed dial for early exits. The third-round loss this year is another chapter in her ongoing saga of struggle at the All England Club, where she hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals in five attempts.

Earlier this year, Swiatek also faced a third-round exit at the Australian Open, suggesting a pattern of inconsistency outside of her favored clay courts. It seems fortune favors the grass and hard courts much less than the sticky shoe-friendly clay for the World No. 1.

Swiatek's coach, likely nervously pacing during the match, might need to rethink strategies and figure out how to help her navigate the intricacies of grass the way she effortlessly glides on clay.

In what has been an eventful tennis year for Swiatek, Wimbledon remains an unsolved mystery. For now, her fans can take solace in her continued dominance on clay and look forward to her next endeavor on grass with hopeful anticipation—or just a really good lawnmower.