Iga Swiatek remains one of the top contenders for the Roland Garros title, but her recent setback at the Italian Open raised some concerns. After falling to Danielle Collins in a surprising early exit, the Polish star now faces added pressure to bounce back and reassert herself against rivals like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. Following her win, Collins made a candid statement that caught the attention of the tennis world.
The Italian Open proved challenging for Swiatek. Not only did she miss out on a deep run in the tournament, but her early elimination also caused a drop in the WTA rankings, she now sits at No. 5. Despite the disappointment, the upcoming French Open offers a chance for redemption.
On the other hand, Collins also took a hit in the rankings, falling 11 spots and narrowly holding on to a place in the top 50. But it was her post-match remarks that generated headlines, as she shared an emotional and revealing take on her victory over Swiatek.
Speaking with the Tennis Channel, Collins admitted that while she was proud of advancing in Rome, she felt conflicted by the crowd’s reaction. According to her, the win didn’t feel fully earned, not because of her performance, but due to the perception that Swiatek lost the match through unforced errors.
“I thought I played really well against Iga,” Collins said. “I didn’t get a ton of credit for it after the match, of course. It was more about how poorly she played and everything.”
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Collins struggles to enjoy victory over Swiatek
Beating the world’s No. 2 should have been a cause for celebration, but for Collins, the moment fell flat. Despite feeling she had played an excellent match, the crowd’s reaction left her with a sense of disappointment rather than triumph.
“That can make it difficult to be able to celebrate your wins sometimes, when you feel like you have a good match and are playing well and it’s just like whatever,” Collins said. “So I was happy about it, but the feeling wasn’t as fun as I imagined.”
Swiatek shifts focus to Roland Garros
After a disappointing result at the Italian Open, Swiatek now turns her attention to one of the most important Grand Slams of the season. The defending champion will need to overcome both internal pressure and stiff competition if she hopes to reclaim the title in Paris.
The road won’t be easy. Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini and runner-up Coco Gauff are both in strong form heading into Roland Garros. Rising star Alexandra Eala and current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also pose serious threats to Swiatek’s title defense.
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