In a game that was slower than many expected, Iga Swiatek defeated American Danielle Collins 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Friday night in the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open.
The first racket in the world thus reaches the semi-finals, and no one will be really surprised to learn it. She has done so in nine of her twelve tournaments this year, including this one.
This match was not a long calm river for the Pole, however.
The last time the two played each other, in Doha in February, Swiatek came out on top in two quick sets of 6-0, 6-1. This time, Collins was much more tenacious.
In the first set, Swiatek broke the American twice to quickly take a 5-1 lead. Her opponent managed to break in turn afterwards, but it was too little, too late.
Collins, however, had not said his last word… The 29-year-old athlete adapted his game in the second set and showed great things, standing up to Swiatek. While leading 5-4, she fumbled three break points before finally winning the set.
This is where the viewers started to be heard a little more. Because until then, let’s say we weren’t witnessing the most thrilling match in history.
Swiatek smashed Collins twice in the third set to end the 2:23 duel.
It’s the end of a great run for Collins, a player from qualifying. She was playing her sixth match of the tournament on Friday. Before facing Swiatek, she took down Elina Svitolina, 8th seed Maria Sakkari and local favorite Leylah Fernandez. She therefore has nothing to be ashamed of her tournament.
Swiatek will face No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Saturday. The two players have already faced each other seven times in their career; Swiatek has won five times.
More details to come.
