Iga Swiatek
had to battle to eliminate
Danielle Collins at the National Bank Open Montreal
with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
World No. 1
came into the match after two tough victories over Karolina Pliskova and
Karolina Muchova, in both of which she had to bring out her best repertoire and
fight to secure the wins.
Iga Swiatek
has achieved 21 victories in her last 22 matches and entered the tournament as
the first seed. However, she hadn't had favorable results in the
Canadian Open
previously, falling in the 2022 edition's round of 16 against Beatriz Haddad
Maia, who later reached the final (losing to Simona Halep).
The
American player had an impressive run from the qualifying rounds, winning five
matches in the Canadian Open. In the main draw, she defeated Elina Svitolina in
the first round, followed by the 8th seed Maria Sakkari, and in the round of
16, she defeated the local favorite Leylah Fernandez.
In their
previous encounters, Swiatek led the head-to-head 2-1, although Collins had won
their sole meeting in a major tournament, defeating Swiatek in the semifinals
of the 2022 Australian Open.
Swiatek
started the first set strongly, securing an early break in the second game and
quickly taking a 3-0 lead. The Polish player secured another break later and
was up 5-1 with her serve to come. Despite Collins' resistance with a break of
her own, Swiatek took the set 6-3.
The second
set initially seemed to be in Swiatek's favor, as she once again got an early
break. However, Collins gradually found her rhythm in the match, consistently
targeting Swiatek's forehand.
The 4-time
Grand Slam champion became frustrated and committed several unforced errors.
Collins managed to secure a break and won three consecutive games to lead the
set. The tenth game, on Swiatek's serve, was intense.
Polish
tennis player saved three set points, but the former Australian Open champion
remained focused and secured the break to take the set 6-4.
Collins
couldn't maintain her high level of play in the third set. She conceded the
first break in the third game, a lead that Swiatek capitalized on and made
insurmountable by securing another break in the seventh game.
Swiatek
closed out the match confidently on her serve, advancing to the semifinals with
a final score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. In the next round, she will face Jessica
Pegula, who defeated Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals on Friday.
