"Played some of my best tennis but lost": Danielle Collins turns lessons into victory over Iga Swiatek
WTA
Danielle Collins celebrated a remarkable victory over Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Rome Open, winning 6-1, 7-5. The American world No. 35 claimed just her second career win over the Pole (now 2-7 H2H), deepening Swiatek’s ongoing struggles during the clay swing.
The 5-time Grand Slam champion arrived in Rome with the mission of defending her title, but she continues to lose ranking points week after week. The three-time Rome champion was a heavy favourite against Collins but was once again outplayed by her opponent.
The head-to-head had strongly favoured Swiatek, who had won seven of their eight previous encounters. Their only prior clay-court meeting also went Swiatek’s way – at the Paris 2024 Olympics – though Collins was forced to retire in a tight match (6-1, 2-6, 4-1, ret.), sending the Pole through to the semifinals.
After securing one her best victory of the years – at least in terms of ranking - Collins pointed to the lessons learned from past defeats as the key to her triumph. “I’ve played Iga so many times. The winning favour is in her favour. When you play that many close matches and get this close… and also play some of your best tennis but lose. I think that you learn a lot. I feel like I applied that today, to the match.”
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It was only Collins’ third career win over a top-2 player, adding to previous victories over Angelique Kerber (Australian Open 2019, then No. 2) and Ashleigh Barty (Adelaide International 2021, then No. 1). It was also her 16th career top-10 win – and her first since Charleston 2024, roughly 13 months ago.
The former world No. 8 will now face either fellow American qualifier Hailey Baptiste or 2-time Rome champion Elina Svitolina (16th seed) in the next round.
Danielle Collins on beating Swiatek in Rome
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 10, 2025
“I played Iga so many times. The winning favor is in her favor. When you play that many close matches and play some of your best tennis but lose, you learn a lot. I feel like I applied that today”
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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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