Iga Swiatek overcame what seemed to be an insurmountable deficit at the Australian Open, coming back from a double-break down in the third set to take out Danielle Collins 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the second round in Melbourne.
While Swiatek now leads the head-to-head 5-1, this match was nevertheless sweet revenge for the Pole as Collins outplayed Swiatek in the 2022 Australian Open semifinals.
In what was a three-hour match impacted by a rain delay, Collins took advantage of the indoor conditions inside Rod Laver Arena and overwhelmed Swiatek with her power for much of the match. Yet, Swiatek played consistent tennis in the latter portion of the third set, as Collins’ offensive game gradually crumbled. Swiatek hit 36 winners during the dramatic encounter.
Swiatek holds on in Australian Open Second Round
Starting in outdoor conditions, it was Collins who broke first in the match, capitalizing in the fourth game after failing to convert two break points earlier on. Swiatek broke right back, as rain soon after interrupted play. Notably, Collins’ win over Swiatek in 2022 occurred in indoor conditions on Rod Laver Arena. Eventually, Swiatek broke later in the set and served the first set out 6-4. Collins hit 15 unforced errors in the first set, while the Pole converted two of three break points.
The match seemed to look like a blowout early in the second set, as Swiatek hit a backhand winner to snatch a 1-0 lead and break of serve. Though, Collins began firing on all cylinders, winning the ensuing five games. Later in the second set, Collins began to struggle on her second serve, while Swiatek became forced to press from the baseline. Collins would take the second set 6-3, as the match became the second of their six encounters to go the distance.
Swiatek scrambles in the decider
Swiatek held serve first in the third set, but Collins’ power gradually controlled the set.
Collins broke to lead 2-1 in the third set, as a crumbling and subdued Swiatek soon found herself down a double-break. Collins’ groundstroke speeds increased by over 10mph from the first set to the latter two sets.
Yet, Collins began to face the pressure of taking out a top seed. Up 4-1, the American went on to lose the last five games of the match. Swiatek hit 16 winners during the third set, the majority during the final five games. On the other hand, Collins hit 13 unforced errors in the third set, many at crucial times.
The final game of the match, with Collins serving down 5-4, summed up the dramatic encounter.
Collins saved two match points, the first a shocking point in which the Pole couldn’t put away an overhead. At deuce, Collins fired one of her many forehand winners to regain momentum but then missed another forehand long. Swiatek eventually converted her third match point on a backhand winner down the line. The win marked her 70th Grand Slam victory and improves the world No. 1’s Australian Open record to 17-5.
Swiatek will now face Linda Noskova in the third round. Noskova took out McCartney Kessler 6-3 1-6 6-4 earlier today. The Pole won the pair’s only meeting last year in Warsaw 6-1 6-4.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
