History doesn\u2019t always repeat itself. Sometimes, it can create the motivation to change things.<\/p>\n
Before Saturday\u2019s third-round match against World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Danielle Collins had lost to the five-time Grand Slam singles champion seven of eight times.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter losing to Iga so many times, you obviously learn from those experiences, matchups,\u201d the No. 29-seeded Collins explained later. \u201cEven though the last couple times we’ve played she\u2019s beaten me, I\u2019ve played some of my best tennis in those matches.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that gave me confidence. Then just learning from those situations, executing my game style and being a little bit more accurate than the times before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clearly, that was an understatement, for Collins sprang a stunning 6-1, 7-5 upset on the greatest clay-court player of the current generation. From beginning to end, there was an unnerving clarity to her explosive game.<\/p>\n
Collins finished with 32 winners, against only 15 unforced errors. Swiatek\u2019s numbers were 15 and 22. Collins converted six of eight break-point opportunities, while Swiatek was only 2-for-10 — Collins actually broke her serve each of the first five times she gained a break point.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously with my game style, I play a pretty aggressive game style,\u201d Collins told reporters. \u201cSometimes that can go one way or another. It can look really great and flashy, and other times you can miss some shots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think having the confidence and trusting myself in those big moments to go after it, to trust my athleticism and to really, yeah, just like not be afraid to go after my shots in those big moments I think was key.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s difficult to put this result into any kind of meaningful context. Swiatek lost her first main-draw match in Rome five years ago to Arantxa Rus. She was 18 years old. After that, she became virtually unbeatable, winning the title three of the past four years. Before Saturday, Swiatek had won an astounding 21 of her past 22 matches at Foro Italico — that\u2019s a winning percentage of 91.3 — second only to Chris Evert\u2019s 92.3.<\/p>\n
And so, the four-time champion at Roland Garros will go into Paris without a title since last year\u2019s romp through the French Open field. The unwavering confidence, the absolute conviction that has carried the 23-year-old from Poland at or near the top of tennis for three years seems to be gone.<\/p>\n
32 winners, 6 breaks, no fear: Collins takes out Swiatek in Rome<\/p>\n
With all due respect to her smashing victory, Collins was asked if she saw vulnerabilities in Swiatek\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Collins said, \u201cI think there\u2019s definitely some things that stand out. I don\u2019t think we need — I don\u2019t intend to visit those areas of her game or criticize what she\u2019s doing, so … this isn\u2019t the forum to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The loss also means the end of another remarkable run.<\/p>\n
Swiatek, the defending champion in Rome, has been the No. 1 or No. 2 player for more than three years now, but she will be No. 4 in the next PIF WTA Rankings. Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, regardless of their success in Rome, will be ahead of her. If Jasmine Paolini wins the tournament, Swiatek would be No. 5.<\/p>\n
What happened, exactly? Look no further than Swiatek\u2019s service game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twice, in the pressure-packed setting of break point in the first set, Swiatek double-faulted. In four games, she won only five points on her serve. After falling to Gauff in the semifinals at Madrid, Swiatek managed only a single game for the third time in five sets.<\/p>\n
Those woes extended to the second set when Collins broke her for the fifth straight time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIga, very simple \u2026 play to win,\u201d her coach Wim Fissette implored during that game. \u201cPut your energy into it — play to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the fourth game, Swiatek held for the first time. In the sixth, there was a flicker of hope. Swiatek had a pair of mid-court balls but couldn\u2019t keep them in the court. Down love-30, she navigated her way out of danger, winning the last four points to make it 3-all.<\/p>\n
Serving at 4-5, Swiatek saved a match point. But it wasn\u2019t to be enough. Collins converted her third match point when a Swiatek backhand sailed wide.<\/p>\n
It was the ninth defeat for Swiatek this season — equaling her entire total from last year.<\/p>\n
Swiatek\u2019s remarkable string of 26 consecutive Round of 16s in WTA 1000s came to an end. This was the first time since Cincinnati 2021, when she was defeated by Ons Jabeur.<\/p>\n
For Collins, it was the first Top 10 win in more than a year, going back to last year\u2019s Charleston event. It was also her third career win against a Top 2 player, following her defeats of Ashleigh Barty at Adelaide 2021 and Angelique Kerber at Australian Open 2019. She was 2-15 going in.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Collins will play No. 16 Elina Svitolina in a fourth-round match.<\/p>\n
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