Iga Swiatek is continuing her charge to Olympic gold after edging past America’s Danielle Collins in a controversial manner, leaving lots of tennis fans saying the same thing.
It looked like it might finish earlier than it did, with Iga Swiatek storming through the first set at the expense of just a single game.
It was defeat to Swiatek in January’s Australian Open earlier this year which saw Danielle Collins announce that this year that it would be her last on the WTA tour.
The American has since typically found the best tennis of her career at the end, returning to the top 10 for the first time since 2021, and securing her inaugural WTA 1000 title in Miami.
Fierce as ever on court, ‘Danimal’ as she’s known, was confronted with the biggest challenge of all on the women’s tour – Swiatek on clay.
With the Pole raring to go after the opening set came and went, Collins turned the tide and battled back to win the second 6-2, which prompted a controversial lengthy bathroom break before the beginning of the decider.
If it was a ploy to disrupt Collins’ rhythm, it worked a treat, as the Pole marched to a surging to a 4-1 lead before the American, who had previously had the trainer on, retired through injury.
Leaving the court after a set is relatively commonplace, however Swiatek is gathering a reputation for only taking these breaks after losing a set.
Fans are left furious after Iga Swiatek’s gamesmanship
While the world number one is well within her rights to take this break and it is possible she is taking a moment to compose herself, fans were mostly in agreement about Swiatek’s off-court antics.
One frustrated fan wrote: “Danielle Collins gets momentum in a big way. Wins set two, evens the match. Iga Swiatek goes to the bathroom … for what feels like a half hour. She’s so insufferable.”
Another echoed these thoughts saying: “Danielle Collins. Wow what a comeback. Iga Swiatek up to her usual tricks and gone off court making Collins wait. Totally unfair.”
With the tremendous heat beating down on Paris, Swiatek likely took the opportunity to change her clothes, go to the bathroom, and did so within the rules.
However, it was not enough to convince some with one branding her ‘unsportsmanlike’, saying: “And then Iga Swiatek takes a 15 minute break to “cool down” and then while Collins is serving she stalls and breaks up the pace. What a way to get into the QF with her unsportsmanlike conduct.”
One provided a more general overview simply saying: “Great player, but not the most likeable athlete.”
Gamesmanship or not, this is simply part of the game players need to accept
The jury is and will seemingly always be out on whether or not Swiatek’s decision to leave the court is tactical or not.
The reality however is that this is a ruthlessly competitive sport and will be a feature of the sport regardless of fierce outcry, stoic defense, or anything in between.
With all the Swiatek uproar likely also boosted up in the tennis psyche because she loses so few sets on clay, it feels a slight overreaction.
The WTA is renowned for its frosty handshakes and this tense ending to Collins’ Olympic journey was just another small episode in this much larger, intensely competitive picture.
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