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American Danielle Collins completed a comprehensive straight-set victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Italian Open. <\/b><\/p>\n
Collins capitalised on a poor serving display from world number two Swiatek to cruise to the opening set before battling back from a break down in the second to clinch a 6-1 7-5 victory.<\/p>\n
It was just her second win in nine matches against the five-time Grand Slam champion and first on clay – the 23-year-old Pole’s preferred surface. <\/p>\n
Collins, 31, will face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the fourth round, while Swiatek must now regroup before the French Open, which begins on 25 May.<\/p>\n
The five-time Grand Slam champion had won the Italian Open in three of the past four seasons but struggled for her best form in the run-up to this year’s event in Rome. <\/p>\n
Swiatek has not won a WTA tournament since claiming her fourth French Open women’s singles title in five years at Roland Garros 12 months ago. <\/p>\n
She started poorly, serving double faults when facing break point in her first two service games, and lost her third to love as 29th seed Collins raced into a 5-0 lead.<\/p>\n
Swiatek finally got on the board in the sixth game, but was promptly broken for a fourth time to lose the opening set in just 24 minutes.<\/p>\n
She broke Collins in the opening game of the second set, but was again unable to cement the break. <\/p>\n
Collins battled hard to keep on level terms for the remainder of the second set before pouncing in the 12th game, claiming a sixth break of serve in the match to seal victory with her second match point as Swiatek flashed a backhand wide. <\/p>\n
Collins’ next opponent, 16th seed Svitolina, came through a three-set battle with 23-year-old American Hailey Baptiste, beating the world number 90 6-4 3-6 6-4.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Italian number one Jasmine Paolini<\/b> – the sixth seed – got past an out-of-sorts Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-3 to seal a place in the last 16, where she will meet 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko<\/b>, of Latvia.<\/p>\n
Australian Open champion Madison Keys is out as the fifth seed was downed by fellow American Peyton Stearns<\/b> in three sets. Stearns will play either Marie Bouzkova or Naomi Osaka next.<\/p>\n
Russian Diana Shnaider<\/b> beat Jaqueline Cristian and awaits the winner of Saturday’s last match due on centre court between Belgium’s Elise Mertens and American third seed Jessica Pegula. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n