It is strange to see a five-time grand slam champion struggle not with her game but with her mentality on the court

ROME — Iga Świątek ’s struggles continue, at one of the last places anyone in tennis would have expected. Świątek, a master of clay-court tennis and defending champion at the Italian Open, lost to American Danielle Collins in the second round, falling 6-1, 7-5.

Iga Swiatek is set to enter the French Open without winning a clay title on the main level for the first time since 2020. On Saturday, the Polish tennis star saw her Rome title defense come to an end in the third round following a 1-6 5-7 third-round loss to Danielle Collins.