An unexpected advantage emerged from Iga Swiatek's recent struggles on clay—she had more time to prepare. Rather than arriving at the grass-court season drained from a deep run on clay, she was able to focus on adapting her game to the surface she has yet to fully master.
Her growing confidence was evident in a dominant performance as she defeated the tough opponent Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round.
Next, Swiatek will take on Clara Tauson, who pulled off an upset by defeating 2022 Wimbledon champion and 11th seed Elena Rybakina 7-6 (6), 6-3.
“I was fully focused,” said Swiatek. “I had a clear plan and knew I had to play aggressively right from the start. You can’t let Danielle dictate the points. I’m pleased with how consistent I was—no lapses.”
Despite being a five-time major champion, the WTA's dominant player in recent years, and holding the No. 1 ranking for much of that time, her current No. 8 seeding feels unusual given her past dominance.
Since winning the 2024 French Open, Swiatek has not claimed another title. She has admitted that her perfectionism, while usually a strength, has become a challenge lately, sometimes leading to self-doubt.
Though her streak of three straight French Open titles ended last month, the tournament seemed to mark a shift for Swiatek. She played more freely, reaching the semifinals before losing to Aryna Sabalenka, and left Paris feeling her confidence returning.
Normally, after deep runs at Roland Garros, she would rest before scrambling to adjust to grass. But this year, she went directly to Mallorca to prepare.
Her appearance in the Bad Homburg final—her first of the season and first on grass—was another positive step, even in defeat to Jessica Pegula.
“It’s been more enjoyable this year,” she said. “I’ve had good practice sessions where I felt in control, which was new on grass. Today matched that feeling. Playing well in Bad Homburg gave me confidence. It’s fresh for me to feel comfortable on this surface.”
There was added tension in this match. At last year’s Olympics in Paris, Collins criticized Swiatek as "insincere" after retiring from their quarterfinal. Collins has been vocal about her dislike for Swiatek, who in May suffered one of her worst clay-court losses in years against Collins.
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