Iga Swiatek has made it through to the fourth round of Wimbledon after beating American player Danielle Collins.
The former world number one, who has really impressed former WTA star Lindsay Davenport, produced her best performance at this year’s championships, defeating Collins 6-2 6-3 on Centre Court.
Despite winning junior Wimbledon in 2018, grass has historically been Swiatek’s weakest surface. She has never made it past the quarter-final stage at Wimbledon.
However, an opportunity has presented itself to Swiatek this year, due to a mass exodus of seeds from the women’s draw, including Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
The Pole has been presented a further opportunity, after something ‘huge’ happened at the championships on Sunday.
Elena Rybakina’s Wimbledon exit is ‘huge’ for Iga Swiatek
Elena Rybakina, who won the Ladies Singles title in 2022, exited the competition on Sunday afternoon after losing to Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
Speaking on The Tennis Podcast on Saturday night, journalist Catherine Whitaker noted the importance of Rybakina’s loss to Clara Tauson, who plays Swiatek in the next round.
Whitaker said: “That’s huge for Swiatek, isn’t it? Rybakina going out.”
Journalist Matt Roberts replied: “I think so. I was looking at that as a real roadblock in the draw to be quite honest given what we’ve seen Rybakina do in the past against Swiatek.
“You know even just a month ago she was leading that match at Roland Garros comfortably. I know Swiatek turned it around… obviously now I’m a grass-court Iga Swiatek convert but on the clay it made more sense that Swiatek was able to turn that around.
“Had that been on grass I think that would have been a real challenge for her and I just think with Tauson, yes she does have power – she doesn’t have complete smothering power like Rybakina at her best does and also if Swiatek plays like she did today she can absorb the Tauson power and move her side-to-side and be patient in rallies.
“If she serves well herself that’ll give her a foundation.
“As you said, it’s a two-pronged reason why that was a good day for Iga Swiatek today and look maybe Tauson can defy her own quotes and play like that again and in which case she would be dangerous but I don’t know, I think I’m backing Swiatek there.”
Catherine Whitaker agreed with Roberts, backing Swiatek to win against Tauson. The only seed ranked higher than Swiatek – seeded eighth – in her half of the draw is now 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who is ranked at seven.
Iga Swiatek passes Martina Hingis for Grand Slam win percentage
Swiatek made more history on Saturday following her victory over Danielle Collins, overtaking Martina Hingis on an important Grand Slam statistic.
As per OptaAce, Swiatek now holds the 11th highest winning percentage in Women’s Singles Grand Slam events in the Open Era, winning 82.8 per cent of her matches (96-20). This has surpassed Martina Hingis’ percentage of 82.7.
Swiatek will have to reach the semi-finals to beat Evonne Goolagong’s winning percentage of 83.1.
The Pole is set to face Clara Tauson on Monday, with a time yet to be scheduled.
