Swiatek conquers Collins to reach Olympic semifinals

Collins retires trailing 1-6, 6-2,1-4

The world #1 and reigning French Open champion returned to the site of her fifth grand slam title hoping to medal at the Paris Olympics. The 23-year-old led Danielle Collins 6-1 in the head-to-head but was prepared to battle given the American’s standout season.

Collins a two-time NCAA champion announced she would retire at the end of this season yet it’s been her most prodigious since turning pro in 2016. This past spring she won her first WTA 1000 title in Miami and the following week on clay in Charleson, the Credit One Open, a WTA 500 event. The thirty-year-old Floridian reached a career-high rank of #7 in 2022 and is currently ranked 9th.  

Swiatek representing Poland won the toss and chose to serve. She made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 while Collins missed 4/5 and dumped serve. The world #1 struck her second backhand winner down the line and consolidated the break while Collins ripped a forehand down the line and held for 1-3.

Swiatek faced 0-30 following two netted groundstrokes but with a stunning forehand down-the-line pass, held to 30 for 4-1. The American gifted two forehand errors, faced double break point, and dropped serve when Swiatek crushed a backhand. Swiatek struggled to seal the set down triple break point but clinched it with six consecutive first serves.

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Collins served first in the second and with new balls. She opened with a crisp forehand volley winner but with a double fault, faced break point. She battled and held following three deuce points and her first ace.

Swiatek incredulously dumped serve despite making 5/5 first serves. Collins maintained her aggressive mindset as she hit two additional aces to consolidate the break.

Swiatek hit two winners including her first ace to get on the board. The American opened the fifth with her fourth ace and held at love for 4-1. The four-time French Open champion belted four winners including an overhead smash on game point for 2-4.

Collins struck three winners including her fifth ace on game point. Swiatek down 2-5 hit three winners but it wasn’t enough as the errors accrued. Collins brimming with confidence continued to pummel winners including a blistering backhand down the line to secure the set.  

Swiatek left the court for an extended period following the conclusion of the second set and upon her return, was greeted with boos. Collins served first in the decider and despite four additional winners including her sixth ace, donated her second double fault and dumped serve.

Swiatek serving with new balls struck her second ace and with two consecutive first serves, consolidated the break for 2-0. Collins committed three unforced errors, dropped serve, and asked for the physio. She left the court for a medical time out ostensibly to reapply abdominal tape.

Swiatek donated two unforced errors but with a winning crosscourt forehand, consolidated the break for 4-0. Collins opened the fifth with an overhead smash and two additional winners including an ace out wide, held for 1-4.

Swiatek opened with an overcooked backhand but two points later the match abruptly ended when Collins approached the chair asserting she could not continue due to an abdominal injury. It was an unfortunate ending to a highly competitive and captivating match.

Qinwen Zheng, world #7 and 2024 Australian Open finalist awaits in the penultimate round. She survived a tough three-setter in the quarters against three-time grand slam champion Angelique Kerber. Although Swiatek leads the head-to-head 6-0, in 2022 in the fourth round on the terre battue at Roland Garros it went the distance.