Danielle Collins Rome Victory: A Stunner Against Iga Swiatek

May 10, 2025

Overview of the Danielle Collins Rome Victory

Danielle Collins delivered a commanding performance to claim victory over the three-time Rome champion, Iga Swiatek, in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. This unexpected win significantly impacts the current WTA rankings, with Swiatek set to drop from her No. 2 position.

Collins vs Swiatek: A Performance Review

Sometimes history is rewritten. Before this match, Collins had lost to Swiatek in seven of their eight encounters. However, she learned from those past experiences. “After losing to Iga so many times, you obviously learn from those experiences,” Collins said. “I’ve played some of my best tennis in those matches, which gave me confidence.”

Most importantly, Collins’s confidence translated into a stunning 6-1, 7-5 victory over the top clay-court player of this generation. Her game was sharp and precise throughout the match. Collins’s performance included 32 winners and only 15 unforced errors, a contrast to Swiatek’s 15 winners and 22 unforced errors. Moreover, Collins was highly effective on break points, converting six out of eight, compared to Swiatek’s two out of ten.

Internazionali BNL d’Italia Highlights: Collins’s Strategy Shines

With her aggressive game style, Collins aimed to hit or miss but trusted herself in big moments. Swiatek’s past dominance in Rome is notable, having won 21 of her last 22 matches at Foro Italico, with her only prior loss five years ago. However, she now heads into the French Open without a title since her triumph last year, marking a significant shift in her form.

Collins’s Game Plan: 32 Winners and 6 Breaks

Despite her victory, Collins was cautious about discussing Swiatek’s vulnerabilities. “I think there’s definitely some things that stand out, but this isn’t the forum to discuss them,” she said.

Because of this loss, Swiatek’s impressive streak ends, and she will drop to No. 4 in the WTA rankings. If Jasmine Paolini wins the tournament, Swiatek could drop to No. 5. Swiatek’s service game struggled under pressure; she double-faulted at crucial moments and won only five points on her serve in four games. This struggle continued into the second set, where Collins broke her serve for the fifth consecutive time.

Swiatek’s coach, Wim Fissette, encouraged her to play assertively, but Collins was relentless. Swiatek saved a match point while serving at 4-5 but eventually lost when her backhand went wide. This marks Swiatek’s ninth defeat of the season, equaling her total losses from the previous year. Her streak of reaching the Round of 16 in 26 consecutive WTA 1000 events ended with this match.

WTA Rankings Impact After Rome

For Collins, this was her first Top 10 win in over a year, and her third career victory against a Top 2 player. She will face No. 16 Elina Svitolina in the fourth round on Monday. This victory not only boosts Collins’s confidence but also shakes up the WTA rankings landscape, as fans and analysts eagerly await the next matches. 🎾