The ongoing competition between Iga Swiatek, a five-time Major champion, and former top 10 player Danielle Collins will heat up again at Wimbledon 2025. The two will meet in the third round on Saturday, July 5, renewing one of women’s tennis’ most talked-about rivalries.

Swiatek currently dominates the head-to-head series 7-2, holding an edge since their first encounter at the Adelaide International in 2021. Collins responded strongly by defeating Swiatek in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2022, but afterward, Swiatek won six consecutive matches until Collins broke the streak at the Italian Open 2025. Despite competitive contests on court, their relationship has been marked by tension off the court as well.

Origins and Dynamics of Their Competitive Encounter

The rivalry began with Swiatek’s straight-sets victory in Adelaide 2021, setting the tone for future encounters. Collins quickly proved she could challenge the younger Pole by knocking her out of the Australian Open semifinals the following year, demonstrating that their matchups would be intense and uncertain. Swiatek’s dominant run after that loss was interrupted by Collins’ straight-sets win at the Italian Open 2025, ending Swiatek’s title defense and reigniting the competitive spark between the two.

Turning Point: The Paris Olympics Incident

Their match in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics 2024 represented a significant moment in the evolution of their relationship. Collins was competitive in the early stages but suffered an injury that forced her to retire in the third set. When they met at the net afterward, Collins surprised Swiatek by accusing her of being “insincere” while Swiatek was offering sympathy for Collins’ injury.

“I told Iga she didn’t have to be insincere about my injury… There’s a lot that happens on camera, and there are a lot of people with a ton of charisma and come out and are one way on camera and another way in the locker room. They can be the way that they are, I can accept that, and I don’t need the fakeness,” Collins said.

This unexpected confrontation left Swiatek confused since she had intended only to express goodwill toward Collins, who had announced plans to retire by the end of 2024. Swiatek addressed the incident during her post-match press conference.

“Well, I won’t argue about it, because 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,” Swiatek said.

Attempts to Move Past the Rivalry’s Rough Patch

Following the Olympics, Collins explained her behavior was amplified by her injury and the resulting pain. Speaking at the WTA Finals 2024, she expressed a willingness to leave behind previous disagreements and focus on personal growth.

“These things happen sometimes on court. I was obviously in a lot of physical pain during that match and felt uncomfortable in that interaction. Of course, I think in hindsight, would do things differently, but hopefully we can just move on from it and just be good competitors, be good people and just try to be the best people we can be,” Collins said.

Despite this apparent desire for reconciliation, the two players became entangled in another minor controversy at the start of the 2025 season during the United Cup.

United Cup Controversy and Social Media Reaction

Representing their countries, Swiatek and Collins both advanced to the United Cup final. In a customary show of respect, players from opposing teams exchanged handshakes before the championship match. However, when Swiatek and Collins were to shake hands, Collins barely made eye contact and was seen rolling her eyes. This moment was captured on camera and widely shared, with Collins posting the clip to her social channels, seemingly making light of the incident.

Addressing the footage during a pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open, Collins clarified that her reaction was self-directed rather than aimed at Swiatek. Known for her candid and expressive nature, Collins emphasized the importance of honesty about one’s emotions and encouraged others to adopt a similar approach.

“And all these memes keep coming up on my Instagram of my face, my face says it all, but, you know, and so… I’m just somebody that’s pretty genuine about what I’m feeling and thinking, and I also laugh at myself too because I know that I can be this way, and I know that it’s not always the greatest, but I try to poke fun at myself and not take myself too seriously and I honestly encourage other people to do the same,” Collins said.

She also touched on the challenges fans face in understanding the complete reality of athletes’ interactions, noting that public assumptions often lack context.

“Because at the end of the day, if we can’t laugh at ourselves about things and take things lightheartedly, what the heck are we doing? I feel like so much gets taken out of context and fans think that they know players personally. They think that they know the ins and outs of what takes place on a daily basis, but the reality is that they really don’t,” Collins concluded.

Fan Reactions to Collins’ Comments at Charleston Open 2025

After a period of relative calm, tension resurfaced partly due to public reactions to Collins’ remarks at the Charleston Open 2025. During a promotional event, players were asked to imagine an ideal tennis player by combining the best traits of current and former competitors. Collins named Iga Swiatek as the player with the best footspeed and referred to her as a “friend.”

This assertion surprised some fans given their recent on- and off-court clashes, raising speculation that Collins refers to Swiatek frequently, which some interpreted as an obsession. Nonetheless, Collins maintained a composed and straightforward demeanor in public appearances.

Smooth Recent Matchups and Looking Ahead to Wimbledon

The most recent meeting between Collins and Swiatek at the Italian Open 2025 unfolded without incident, signaling a potential thaw in their rivalry’s off-court drama. With their Wimbledon encounter looming, the tennis world awaits whether the competitive fire will ignite intense battles on court and possibly off it as well.

The Danielle Collins Iga Swiatek rivalry captures attention due to the intersection of strong athletic competition and unfolding interpersonal dynamics. Their next contest at Wimbledon is poised to add another compelling chapter, with implications not only for their records but also for the evolving narrative surrounding them as competitors and individuals.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What condition does Danielle Collins have?

A. Collins has endometriosis, where cells like those lining the uterus start to grow in other parts of the body. As she planned to retire, doctors informed her that her endometriosis could delay her plans to get pregnant.