Iga Swiatek Eliminated by Danielle Collins at Italian Open

Iga Swiatek, the world number two and three-time Italian Open champion, began her campaign at the tournament with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, marking her 18th consecutive straight-sets win at this event and equaling the record for most 'bagels' in WTA 1000 events. However, her pursuit of a fourth title at Rome ended abruptly in the third round when she was upset by Danielle Collins 6-1, 7-5, a surprising defeat given Swiatek's previous dominance on clay and in their head-to-head record. This early exit follows a recent straight-sets loss to Coco Gauff in Madrid, raising concerns about Swiatek's form ahead of the French Open, where she is a four-time champion. Despite this, Swiatek remains in contention to maintain her World No. 2 ranking, which requires at least a finals appearance in Rome. Meanwhile, other notable players like Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula advanced in the tournament, while Jannik Sinner is set to return from a doping ban in the men's draw. The Italian Open serves as a critical clay-court lead-up to the French Open, with Swiatek's performance closely watched as she aims to regain her top form.