Iga Swiatek escapes with a narrow win at Australian Open 2024
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts after winning a point against Danielle Collins of the U.S. during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
MELBOURNE, Australia— Top-ranked Iga Swiatek rallied from 4-1 down in the third set to escape with a narrow 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins on Thursday and advance to the third round of the Australian Open.
Swiatek held the momentum to start after recovering an early break, leading by a set and a break before the American player rallied to take the second set and race to a 4-1 lead in the third.
Article continues after this advertisementSwiatek absorbed the sustained pressure from Collins’ powerful groundstrokes until she regained momentum and went on a match-winning five-game roll.
READ: Iga Swiatek survives early test in Australian Open 2024
“Oh my God. I don’t even know,” Swiatek said of how she managed to come back. “Honestly, I was on the airport already. But I wanted to fight to the end.
“I’m really proud of myself, because it wasn’t easy.”
Article continues after this advertisementJ A Z D A 🔥@iga_swiatek wins 5️⃣ straight games against Collins for an incredible 6-4 3-6 6-4 comeback!#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/NE3jnqk6eO
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2024
Both players beat past Australian Open champions in the first round. Swiatek defeated 2020 champion Sofia Kenin and Collins had a three-set win over 2016 winner Angelique Kerber.
Swiatek had two match points at 15-40 in the last game but against Collins rallied, saving those and getting a game point with a trademark forehand winner deep to Swiatek’s backhand side.
But a forehand long and a backhand wide from Collins gave gave Swiatek a third match point and she made no mistake this time, finishing in 3 hours and 14 minutes with a deep backhand down the line.
Last year’s runner-up, third-ranked Elena Rybakina, and men’s No. 3 Daniil Medvedev are in action in the night session. Rybakina faces Anna Blinkova of Russia and Medvedev takes on Emil Ruusuvouri of Finland.
