National Bank Open Unsurprisingly, Iga Swiatek advances

In a game that was slower than many expected, Iga Swiatek defeated American Danielle Collins in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Friday night in the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open.

The first racket in the world thus reaches the semi-finals, and no one will be really surprised to learn it. She has done so in nine of her twelve tournaments this year, including this one.

It wasn’t a smooth ride for the Pole, however.

The last time the two played each other, in Doha in February, Swiatek came out on top in two quick sets of 6-0, 6-1. This time, Collins proved to be much more tenacious.

In the first set, Swiatek broke the American twice to quickly take a 5-1 lead. Her opponent managed to break in turn afterwards, but it was too little, too late.

Collins, however, had not said his last word… The 29-year-old athlete adapted his game in the second set and showed great things, standing up to Swiatek. While leading 5-4, she fumbled three break points before finally winning the set.

This is where the viewers started to be heard a little more. Because until then, let’s say we weren’t witnessing the most thrilling match in history.

Swiatek smashed Collins twice in the third set to end the 2 hour 23 min duel.

It’s the end of a great run for Collins, a player from qualifying. She was playing her sixth match of the tournament on Friday. Before facing Swiatek, she knocked down Elina Svitolina, the 8^e seeded Maria Sakkari and local favorite Leylah Fernandez. She therefore has nothing to be ashamed of her tournament.

Swiatek will face Jessica Pegula, 4^e seeded, in the semi-finals on Saturday. The two players have already faced each other seven times in their career; Swiatek has won five times.

More details to come.