Iga Swiatek is the favourite to clinch the women's gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and she enters Wednesday's quarter-final match with Danielle Collins keen to avoid a shock exit.
The Polish No. 1 seed has dispatched her opponents without dropping a set and is favoured to outdo her American opponent, who has battled through her draw.
Match preview
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Even though Swiatek is a first-time Olympian in Paris, the world No. 1's favourite playground is on the clay courts at Roland Garros, where she has won four French Open titles including three on the trot.
Several weeks removed from her straight-set win over Jasmine Paolini on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the four-time champion is the clear favourite heading into any match she plays at the Games, and Wednesday is no different.
Swiatek is yet to drop a set in three matches in Paris, recently notching a 6-3, 6-4 success over Wang Xiyu on Tuesday to move into the tournament's last eight.
With three more wins separating the No. 1 seed from claiming gold in her first Olympics, the 23-year-old will back herself to record another win against her American opponent.
Inexperienced she might be in this competition, but the surface is home to Swiatek's expertise, and she seeks to prove that against Collins.
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The American enters the match as a rank outsider against one of the sport's greatest clay-court players, seeking a shock win over the world No. 1.
The No. 8 seed has been far from convincing en route to her quarter-final match against Swiatek, underlined by being forced to deciders in round two against Caroline Wozniacki and again in the third round success over Camila Osorio.
On both occasions, Collins has notched the first set but has lost the second before recovering to win the deciders in both matches to make it this far.
Her seeming competence at responding to setbacks will stand her in good stead against her accomplished clay-court opponent on Wednesday.
For a player who has never suffered two second-round losses and a tournament-opening defeat at the French Open in the last three years, the Olympics have been kinder to Collins, and she aims to have Lady Luck on her side against the favourite in the women's singles draw in Paris.
Tournament so far
Iga Swiatek:
First round: vs. Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 7-5
Second round: vs. Diane Parry 6-1 6-1
Third round: vs. Wang Xiyu 6-3 6-4
Danielle Collins:
First round: vs. Laura Siegemund 6-3 2-0 ret
Second round: vs. Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 3-6 6-3
Third round: vs. Camila Osorio 6-0 4-6 6-3
Head To Head
Adelaide (2021) - Quarter-finals: Swiatek 6-2 3-0 ret
Australian Open (2022) - Semi-final: Collins 6-4 6-1
Doha (2023) - Round of 16: Swiatek 6-0 6-1
Montreal (2023) - Quarter-final: Swiatek 6-3 4-6 6-2
Cincinnati (2023) - Round of 32: Swiatek 6-1 6-0
Australian Open (2024) - Second round: Swiatek 6-4 3-6 6-4
Indian Wells (2024) - Round of 64: Swiatek 6-3 6-0
Both players have met seven times on the WTA Tour, with Swiatek leading their head-to-head 6-1.
The Poland star's only loss to Collins came in their second match-up Down Under in the last four, with the American triumphing in straight sets en route to ending runners-up to home favourite Ashleigh Barty.
Swiatek has since notched 10 of the 12 sets played across the next five encounters, underscoring her dominance over the 30-year-old.
We say: Swiatek to win in three sets
Including this year's French Open, the last time Swiatek dropped a set on clay was against Naomi Osaka on Philippe-Chatrier.
Since that close round-two match, the world No. 1 has dispatched opponents on the surface without losing a set, and she should keep that run going on Wednesday.
