With fearless hitting, Collins knocks out defending champ Iga Swiatek in Rome

Historical past doesn’t at all times repeat itself. Generally, it might probably create the motivation to vary issues.

Earlier than Saturday’s third-round match in opposition to World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Danielle Collins had misplaced to the five-time Grand Slam singles champion seven of eight instances.

“After losing to Iga so many times, you obviously learn from those experiences, matchups,” the No. 29-seeded Collins defined later. “Though the final couple instances we have performed she’s crushed me, I’ve performed a few of my finest tennis in these matches.

“So 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.”

Clearly, that was an understatement, for Collins sprang a shocking 6-1, 7-5 upset on the best clay-court participant of the present technology. From starting to finish, there was an unnerving readability to her explosive recreation.

Collins completed with 32 winners, in opposition to solely 15 unforced errors. Swiatek’s numbers had been 15 and 22. Collins transformed six of eight break-point alternatives, whereas Swiatek was solely 2-for-10 — Collins truly broke her serve every of the primary 5 instances she gained a break level.

“Obviously with my game style, I play a pretty aggressive game style,” Collins instructed reporters. “Generally that may go a technique or one other. It may well look actually nice and flashy, and different instances you may miss some pictures. 

“But 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.”

It’s tough to place this end result into any type of significant context. Swiatek misplaced her first main-draw match in Rome 5 years in the past to Arantxa Rus. She was 18 years previous. After that, she turned nearly unbeatable, profitable the title three of the previous 4 years. Earlier than Saturday, Swiatek had received an astounding 21 of her previous 22 matches at Foro Italico — that’s a profitable proportion of 91.3 — second solely to Chris Evert’s 92.3.

And so, the four-time champion at Roland Garros will go into Paris and not using a title since final yr’s romp by the French Open discipline. The unwavering confidence, absolutely the conviction that has carried the 23-year-old from Poland at or close to the highest of tennis for 3 years appears to be gone.

With all due respect to her smashing victory, Collins was requested if she noticed vulnerabilities in Swiatek’s recreation.

“Yeah,” Collins mentioned, “I think there’s definitely some things that stand out. I don’t think we need — I don’t intend to visit those areas of her game or criticize what she’s doing, so … this isn’t the forum to do that.”

The loss additionally means the top of one other exceptional run.

Swiatek, the defending champion in Rome, has been the No. 1 or No. 2 participant for greater than three years now, however she will probably be No. 4 within the subsequent PIF WTA Rankings. People Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, no matter their success in Rome, will probably be forward of her. If Jasmine Paolini wins the event, Swiatek could be No. 5.

What occurred, precisely? Look no additional than Swiatek’s service recreation. 

Twice, within the pressure-packed setting of break level within the first set, Swiatek double-faulted. In 4 video games, she received solely 5 factors on her serve. After falling to Gauff within the semifinals at Madrid, Swiatek managed solely a single recreation for the third time in 5 units.

These woes prolonged to the second set when Collins broke her for the fifth straight time.

“Iga, very simple … play to win,” her coach Wim Fissette implored throughout that recreation. “Put your energy into it — play to win.”

Within the fourth recreation, Swiatek held for the primary time. Within the sixth, there was a flicker of hope. Swiatek had a pair of mid-court balls however couldn’t maintain them within the courtroom. Down love-30, she navigated her method out of hazard, profitable the final 4 factors to make it 3-all.

Serving at 4-5, Swiatek saved a match level. Nevertheless it wasn’t to be sufficient. Collins transformed her third match level when a Swiatek backhand sailed large.

It was the ninth defeat for Swiatek this season — equaling her whole complete from final yr.

Swiatek’s exceptional string of 26 consecutive Spherical of 16s in WTA 1000s got here to an finish. This was the primary time since Cincinnati 2021, when she was defeated by Ons Jabeur.

For Collins, it was the primary Prime 10 win in additional than a yr, going again to final yr’s Charleston occasion. It was additionally her third profession win in opposition to a Prime 2 participant, following her defeats of Ashleigh Barty at Adelaide 2021 and Angelique Kerber at Australian Open 2019. She was 2-15 moving into.

On Monday, Collins will play No. 16 Elina Svitolina in a fourth-round match.