World No 1 Iga Swiatek tearful but ‘proud’ after avoiding Australian Open shock

ROD LAVER ARENA — Iga Swiatek‘s quest for a first ever Australian Open title was almost derailed by Danielle Collins again but she produced a spirited late surge to win 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Collins knocked Swiatek out of the same tournament two years ago at the semi-final stage but the Pole had won the three match-ups between the pair since, most recently a 6-0 6-1 drubbing in Cincinnati.

However, the world No 1 appeared hampered by injury on Thursday in Melbourne, donning a brace on her left leg before the deciding set and seen taking painkillers on court.

But Swiatek produced a five-game run in the deciding set to come back from 4-1 down to world No 62 Collins, sealing victory in three hours and 14 minutes, before burying her head in a towel and emerging in tears of joy.

“I was [at] the airport already but I wanted to fight until the end,” Swiatek said afterwards.

“I’m really proud of myself because it wasn’t easy.”

Swiatek, 22, has won the other hard-court grand slam in New York and three top-level WTA titles in similar conditions, but is yet to succeed in Australia.

She blamed 2023 defeat to Elena Rybakina on a “pretty hectic” period of preparation for the tournament and insisted ahead of the tournament that she had been afforded a “more peaceful” pre-season where she could “just focus on practicing and resting”.

And it looked to have worked when she recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the opponent set to lead Collins by a set after 78 minutes, during which the roof shut to keep out the passing Melbourne showers.

But Swiatek’s serving level dropped in the second set, her first-serve percentage going from 74 to 63 and she was broken three times by Collins, who only missed six returns in the entire set.

The momentum was with the American, on whom it would not have been lost that Swiatek appeared to be struggling physically, and she jumped out to a 4-1 lead with a double break of serve in the decider.

But Collins’s forehand deserted her, dropping nearly 20 miles an hour of velocity on that wing as she became tentative with the finish line in sight – and Swiatek won 23 of the last 32 points to capitalise and book her place in the third round.

Collins meanwhile revealed afterwards that she did not expect to be back at the Australian Open next year.

“This is going to be my last season competing. I don’t really know exactly when, but this will be my last season and I’m really looking forward to that,” Collins said.