Swiatek Eliminated from Italian Open Championship
In a stunning turn of events, reigning Italian Open champion Iga Swiatek suffered a shocking elimination from the tournament on Saturday, falling to American Danielle Collins 6-1, 7-5 in the third round. The world number two, who was seeking her fourth title at the Foro Italico, was thoroughly outplayed by Collins, ranked 35th in the world.
The loss is a major setback for Swiatek, who has dominated on clay courts in the past and has an impressive record in Rome. The Polish star, who has won four French Open titles, was expected to make a deep run in the tournament, but instead, she found herself on the wrong end of a convincing defeat.
Collins, who won her first WTA 1000 title in Miami last year, played some of the best tennis of her life, breaking Swiatek four times in the first set and never looking back. The American’s victory sets up a mouth-watering clash with either Elina Svitolina or fellow American Hailey Baptiste in the last 16.
The manner of Swiatek’s defeat has raised concerns about her form ahead of the French Open, which begins later this month. Just a few weeks ago, she was thrashed in straight sets by Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open, and this latest loss will only add to the doubts about her ability to defend her title at Roland Garros.
Swiatek’s performance against Collins was uncharacteristically poor, with the Pole struggling to impose herself on the match. She was broken repeatedly and failed to find any rhythm on her serve or return. It was a far cry from the dominant player who has won four French Open titles and has been one of the most consistent performers on the WTA tour in recent years.
In other news, men’s world number one Jannik Sinner is set to make his return to action later today, facing Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the third round. Sinner has been serving a three-month doping ban, and his return to the tour has been highly anticipated. The Italian star will be looking to make a statement and prove that he is still one of the best players in the world.
The Italian Open continues on Sunday, with several high-profile matches scheduled, including a blockbuster clash between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years, with several top players still in contention for the title.
