Drama has erupted at the Paris Olympics! The women’s quarterfinal showdown at the event saw Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins partake in a heated on-court conversation. Their contest concluded mid-way through the third set, 6-1 2-6, 4-1 after the American retired due to an abdominal injury. However, the controversy flared up when World No. 1 Swiatek was stumped with Collins’ lengthy lecture during the ceremonial handshake.
Collins later revealed that she felt the Pole talent was being insincere about her injury which prompted her to say some words to Swiatek on-court. This, in turn, has elicited a response from the Polish star. In a post-match interview, the World No. 1 gave fans her side of the story and was visibly confused by what happened at the quadrennial event.
While speaking to the ‘Interia Sport,’ Swiatek couldn’t comprehend what provoked the American to behave that way. The Pole claimed that she had never done anything in poor taste towards the World No. 9. Instead, Swiatek only wanted to congratulate the 30-year-old on her career (2024 being Collins’s final year on the WTA). “I’ve never done anything nasty to her. I rather wanted to congratulate her on her successful career, because we all know that this is her last year on tour, Honestly, I don’t know what she meant, because we didn’t even have any interactions that could have caused her to say that to me.”
Tensions were high in the match as Collins, who announced her retirement after losing to Swiatek earlier this year at the Australian Open, hit a shot directly at her body. Although the American went to check up on her, it did not seem to change much. Furthermore, Collins accused Swiatek of not playing at the pace of the server in the clash, as the Pole held her racquet up when Collins was about to serve. The tensions mounted during the match, and the situation does not seem to have improved after the match.
As mentioned earlier, Collins disclosed the conversation she had with Swiatek when they shook hands after the match. The American notably highlighted that she did not appreciate the Pole’s behavior which provoked her to address the situation first-hand.
“I don’t need the fakeness” Danielle Collins on Iga Swiatek disregarding her injury
In the decider set, Collins was trailing behind 1-4 when she took a medical timeout. At first, fans thought that the American did this to get back at Swiatek for seemingly slowing things down in the second set. However, the World No. 9’s retirement from the match cleared the air and validated her injury concerns.
In a post-match presser, the American opened up about the statements she made to Swiatek moments after she retired from the quarterfinal showdown. Collins expressed her frustration with the Pole’s dismissing attitude towards her injury which led to the intense on-court drama. “I told Iga she didn’t have to be insincere about, you know, my injury. I just haven’t had the best experience, and I don’t really feel like anybody needs to be insincere. They can be the way that they are. I can accept that, and I don’t need the fakeness.”
The World No. 1 will next take on Team China’s Zheng Qinwen for a place in the event’s summit clash. The two players have locked horns six times in their career, with Swiatek emerging victorious in all their encounters. In her current form, it seems like the Polish star wouldn’t face much trouble navigating through the Chinese talent’s challenge. Meanwhile, Collins, along with compatriot Desirae Krawczyk secured their doubles second round win at the event and currently await for their upcoming clash.
