Collins Wins To End Swiatek's Italian Open Defence

American Danielle Collins completed a broad straight-set triumph complete defending champion Iga Swiatek successful nan 3rd information of nan Italian Open.

Collins capitalised connected a mediocre serving show from world number 2 Swiatek to cruise to nan opening group earlier battling backmost from a break down successful nan 2nd to clinch a 6-1 7-5 victory.

It was conscionable her 2nd triumph successful 9 matches against nan five-time Grand Slam champion and first connected clay - nan 23-year-old Pole's preferred surface.

Collins, 31, will look either Ukrainian Elina Svitolina aliases compatriot Hailey Baptiste successful nan 4th round, while Swiatek must now regroup earlier nan French Open, which originates connected 25 May.

Swiatek had won nan Italian Open successful 3 of nan past 4 seasons but struggled for her champion shape successful nan run-up to this year's arena successful Rome.

She has not won a WTA tourney since claiming her 4th French Open women's singles title successful 5 years astatine Roland Garros 12 months ago.

Swiatek started poorly, serving double faults erstwhile facing break constituent successful her first 2 work games, and mislaid her 3rd to emotion arsenic 29th seed Collins raced into a 5-0 lead.

Swiatek yet sewage connected nan committee successful nan sixth game, but was promptly surgery for a 4th clip to suffer nan opening group successful conscionable 24 minutes.

She collapsed Collins successful nan opening crippled of nan 2nd set, but was again incapable to cement nan break.

Collins battled difficult to support connected level position for nan remainder of nan 2nd group earlier pouncing successful nan 12th game, claiming a sixth break of service successful nan lucifer to seal triumph pinch her 2nd lucifer constituent arsenic Swiatek flashed a backhand wide.