From the moment the Australian Open draw was dealt last week, there was little doubt that a wild ride awaited world No 1 Iga Swiatek, after so many difficult opponents were drawn in her section. Of all her potential challengers, no first-week foe seemed as dangerous as Danielle Collins.
Despite facing one of the most formidable opponents on the tour, Swiatek impressively controlled her emotions and rose to the occasion, executing a remarkable comeback that stands out as one of the best of her career. Despite being down by two breaks in the final set, Swiatek fought back and ultimately defeated Collins 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, securing her spot in the third round of the Australian Open.
“I was already at the airport,” Swiatek chuckled. “I was determined to keep fighting until the end. I was aware that my opponent was playing flawlessly, but I also knew that it’s difficult for anyone to maintain that level for the entire match. I wanted to be prepared for when she inevitably made more mistakes.”
“I simply wanted to make the final push. I did it and I’m extremely proud of myself because it was no easy feat. I was truly proud of myself.”
Although Swiatek is renowned for her dominant victories against all opponents when she is playing at her best, developing mental fortitude in the face of intense pressure during a three-set match has been a gradual journey. However, the 22-year-old Polish player consistently demonstrates growth in situations like these, solidifying her potential as a future legend in the sport.
Ever since joining the tour, Swiatek has struggled against opponents who take risks and play aggressive shots, aiming to hit the ball early and attack her second serve. Collins was one of the few players who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities in their Australian Open semi-final two years ago, defeating Swiatek with a score of 6-4, 6-1.
In the same year, Collins achieved her first Grand Slam final and reached a personal best ranking of No. 7. However, due to injuries and inconsistency in the 2023 season, she has since dropped to a current ranking of No. 62. Despite her struggles, Collins’ ability to make strong shots remains consistent.
Despite Collins initially taking a 3-1 lead in the first set, Swiatek quickly rebounded. She displayed strong serving and impressive counterpunching, winning five of the next six games to secure the set. In the second set, Swiatek broke serve right away and appeared to be headed for a win.
Instead, after losing a set and a break, Collins appeared to find her rhythm and her performance improved. She aggressively attacked the ball, consistently taking the first shot and dominating Swiatek’s second serve. With her precise shots and powerful winners, Collins left Swiatek unable to respond.
Prior to the start of the last round, Swiatek took a restroom break and returned with a brace on her left knee. However, this brief pause did not affect Collins’ strong performance as she maintained her powerful shots from both forehand and backhand, securing a double lead at 4-1 and getting closer to winning the match.
“I sensed that I had the upper hand, but then she picked up her pace and played twice as fast,” Swiatek recounted. “I was caught off guard and didn’t know how to respond for a few minutes and games. But I regrouped and realized that the only thing I could control was my own performance.”
Despite the impending loss, Swiatek maintained complete dominance. She effectively neutralized Collins’ second serve with powerful and consistent returns and also had a higher percentage of successful first serves. During rallies, Swiatek consistently placed the ball deep, making it challenging for Collins. Most importantly, she displayed incredible accuracy and did not make any mistakes.
Collins succumbed to the pressure from the top-ranked player and folded. After trailing 4-1, Swiatek dominated with five consecutive games, securing the win with an impressive backhand winner from a drop shot after a lengthy and exhausting rally.
After processing her escape, Swiatek sat down and covered her head with a towel. Despite being close to losing for over three hours, she had not shown any negative emotions, but now she allowed herself to feel.
After emerging from beneath her towel with tears in her eyes, she wiped them away and confidently left the court to start getting ready for the next obstacle. Swiatek will go up against Linda Noskova, a highly skilled teenage player from the Czech Republic, in the third round.
