"I was in the airport already!": Iga Swiatek shocked with incredible Collins comeback win to keep Australian Open hopes alive
WTA
Danielle Collins who revealed post match she is retiring from tennis at the end of the 2024 season rolled it back to 2022 as she was on the verge of dumping out World No.1, Iga Swiatek again at the Australian Open.
Collins was two breaks up in the deciding set, before the Pole came back with five games in a row to claim the match and Swiatek admitted she was already planning on going home and was resigned to her fate albeit with that fight still very much there as she was ready to punish any mistakes from the American's racquet.
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Collins had broke early in the third to move 2-1 up and then made it a double break and continued to pile the pressure on at 4-3 up with three break points. But Collins started then to make errors and it was soon all square as a poor service game from Collins was punished and she sealed the match with her third opportunity in drama personified on Rod Laver Arena.
"I was in the airport already!," said Swiatek. "I wanted to fight until the end. I know she played perfectly but it would be hard for anyone to keep that level, so I wanted to be ready when mistakes were going to come from the other side and punish them.
"I did in the end and I'm really proud of myself because it wasn't easy. I felt like I had momentum going, then she suddenly started playing two times faster.
"I had no idea how to react to that for a couple of games but I came back and thought 'the only thing I can focus on is myself'. I stopped caring about how she played and focused on myself."
"I was in the airport already!," said Swiatek. "I wanted to fight until the end. I know she played perfectly but it would be hard for anyone to keep that level, so I wanted to be ready when mistakes were going to come from the other side and punish them.
"I did in the end and I'm really proud of myself because it wasn't easy. I felt like I had momentum going, then she suddenly started playing two times faster.
"I had no idea how to react to that for a couple of games but I came back and thought 'the only thing I can focus on is myself'. I stopped caring about how she played and focused on myself."
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Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!
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mandoist12-11-2026 - I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
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mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
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mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026







