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Iga Swiatek suffers major world rankings blow after Italian Open exit
Reach Daily Express | May 11, 2025 4:39 AM CST

suffered a huge upset at the Italian Open on Saturday, crashing out in the third round. The world No. 2 was the reigning champion in Rome and had an amazing 21-2 record in matches at the Foro Italico coming into her third-round contest with . But the American sent her packing with a 6-1 7-5 victory.

Swiatek is now set to face a major blow in the rankings as she will fall outside of the world's top three for the first time in more than three years. The Pole is set to drop to No. 4 in the world at best when the standings update at the conclusion of the tournament.

It's been a tough season for Swiatek, who has suffered some disappointing defeats and has failed to reach a final at any tournament since winning the 2024 French Open. And things went from bad to worse in Rome, a place she usually thrives in.

The 23-year-old was seeking her fourth title at the Foro Italico, lifting the trophy in 2021, 2022 and 2024. But she was dumped out in the third round by 29th seed Collins.

Swiatek was defending 1,000 ranking points at the Italian Open following her victory last year. And she has only earned 65 points for her third-round run, meaning she will lose her place as the world No. 2.

Coco Gauff and will leapfrog Swiatek in the rankings when they update on Monday, May 19.

It will be the first time Swiatek has been ranked outside of the world's top three since March 2022. Depending on their players' results this fortnight, she is expected to fall to No. 4, if not lower.

Coming into Saturday's match, Swiatek had a dominant 7-1 record against Collins, with her sole defeat coming at the 2022 Australian Open.

But the American, who is playing her first tournament in more than a month, made a statement as she raced into a 5-0 lead in half an hour. Collins hit 32 winners on her way to sealing a 6-1 7-5 victory, breaking Swiatek six times in the match.

It's Swiatek's earliest defeat at a WTA 1000 tournament since the 2021 Cincinnati Open. And there will be a lot to think about going into the French Open.

The Pole is a four-time champion at Roland Garros, winning the last three in a row. But she is struggling for form and, by falling down the rankings, she risks being drawn in the same half as world No. 1 .

Last year, Swiatek swept titles in Madrid and Rome going into the French Open, but it's been a different story in 2025. The current world No. 2 also suffered a bruising defeat at the Caja Magica last week as Gauff thrashed her 6-1 6-1 in the semi-final.

After the match, Swiatek admitted she had been struggling throughout the tournament. And for the first time in years, she will no longer be the clear favourite heading into Paris.


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