Danielle Collins dumps defending champion Iga Swiatek out of Italian Open

ROME – Iga Swiatek was dumped out of the Italian Open on May 10 after the reigning Rome champion suffered a shock 6-1, 7-5 loss at the hands of Danielle Collins.

World No. 2 Swiatek was hunting a fourth title at the Foro Italico but failed to get past the third round of the last major tournament before the French Open, following an uncharacteristically bad display against the American.

“I played Iga so many times. The winning favour is in her favour. When you play that many close matches and play some of your best tennis but lose, you learn a lot. I feel like I applied that today,” said the 31-year-old Collins.

She will face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat American Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, in the last 16, as the world No. 35 hunts an unlikely second WTA 1000 title after winning in Miami in 2024.

Swiatek’s early exit is a significant shock, as the Pole usually dominates her rivals on clay and has a hugely impressive record (21 wins out of 22 matches before the loss on May 10) in the Italian capital.

The manner of her defeat is another worrying sign ahead of Roland Garros, as she was also thrashed in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) by United States’ Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open earlier in May.

Swiatek was barely recognisable from the player who has won four French Open titles, being broken four times in the first set and failing to impose herself at all on Collins, against whom she had previously won seven of eight meetings.

The 23-year-old’s elimination opens up her side of the women’s draw with Japanese Naomi Osaka, who could have been her opponent in the quarter-finals, taking on Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic at press time.

Osaka, who is still finding form after a 15-month break from tennis, will face American Peyton Stearns in the last 16 if she gets past Bouzkova. Stearns upset fifth seed and compatriot Madison Keys 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) on May 10.

Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will take to a packed and partisan centre court late on May 10 against Argentina’s Mariano Navone, hoping to shake off the cobwebs as he eyes a run at Roland Garros later in May. Sinner has not swung a racket in a tournament since claiming his third Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open in January, due to a suspension agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in February.

His rise to the top of the game in 2024, when he won eight titles including his first two Slams and the ATP Finals, was dogged by the controversy which followed his two positive tests for traces of clostebol in March 2024.

Both Wada and the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which initially cleared Sinner in August, accepted he was accidentally contaminated with the banned substance by his physiotherapist.

Fans on centre court were given a first taste of joy by the Rome-born Matteo Berrettini beating Briton Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) in his first match at his home tournament in four years.

Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, who withdrew from the Madrid Open with the latest in a long line of abdominal injuries, will face Madrid champion Casper Ruud in the third round, with the Norwegian beating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Said Ruud: “It’s a lot of ups and downs, here and there, side to side. When Sascha starts his game, it becomes a bit of a show, so you just try not to admire it, to stay focused.

“He always hits spectacular shots and, sometimes, it’s a little frustrating for us opponents. But, all in all, happy to be through a tough three-setter. It’s never easy against Sascha, we had a tough match here in Rome a couple of years ago, so happy to get another today.”

Russian Andrey Rublev was dumped out by Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, continuing his poor form since winning in Dubai in February. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz also exited after going down 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3) to fellow American Marcos Giron. AFP, REUTERS