Tenacious Collins sparks Swiatek collapse

Danielle Collins ignored her 1-8 record against Iga Swiatek, with the American pulling off a 6-1, 7-5 upset on Saturday to send the defending champion out in a third-round shock at the Rome Masters.

Collins, a semi-finalist here a year ago, needed an hour and three-quarters to engineer the upset of Swiatek, who now has a Roland Garros title defence starting in 15 days,

The 31-year-old Collins, currently ranked 35th, had been preparing to end her career at the end of last season but decided at the last minute to extend.

Swiatek, champion at four of the last five editions of the French Open, is now in a full-blown crisis of confidence.

The Pole lost just a single game in her first march this week at the Foro Italico but was humiliated 6-1, 6-1 in a Madrid semi last week.

Swiatek saved a match point in the 10th game of the second set as she clung on to hope, but was put away two games later as she drove a backhand wide cross-court.

“I’ve played here so many times,” said Collins.”When you lose so many of those matches you learn a lot.

“I think that’s what I did today.”

The American prevailed with 32 winners which Swiatek fired 22 unforced errors in her losing effort while losing serve six times.

Main photo:- Danielle Collins on her way to victory – by WTATennis.com