The China Mail - Swiatek's Rome title defence ends early as Sinner set for hero's return

World number two Swiatek was hunting a fourth title at the Foro Italico but failed to get past the third round of the last major tournament before the French Open following an uncharacteristically bad display against unfancied Collins.

Veteran Collins, 31, will now face one of Elina Svitolina or fellow American Hailey Baptiste in the last 16 as the world number 35 hunts an unlikely second WTA 1000 title after winning in Miami last year.

Swiatek's early exit is a major shock as the Pole usually dominates her rivals on clay and has a hugely impressive record in the Italian capital.

The manner of her defeat is another worrying sign ahead of Roland Garros as she was also thrashed in straight sets by Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open earlier this month.

Swiatek was barely recognisable from the player who has won four French Open titles, being broken four times in the first set and failing to impose herself at all on Collins, against whom she had previously won eight of nine meetings.

The 23-year-old's elimination opens up her side of the women's draw with Naomi Osaka, who could have been her opponent in the quarter-finals, taking on Marie Bouzkova later on Saturday.

Osaka, who is still finding form after a 15-month break from tennis, will face fifth seed Madison Keys in the last 16 if she gets past Bouzkova.

- Sinner mania -

Italian star Sinner will take to a packed and partisan centre court on Saturday evening against Argentina's Mariano Navone, hoping to shake off the cobwebs as he eyes a run at Roland Garros later this month.

The world number one said before his first training session in Rome that he was just hoping to get past his second round clash with Navone and see where his game is, after an enforced three months on the sidelines.

Sinner hasn't swung a racket in a tournament since claiming his third Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open in January, due to a suspension agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February.

His rise to the top of the game in 2024, when he won eight titles including his first two Slams and the ATP Finals, was dogged by the controversy which followed his two positive tests for traces of clostebol in March last year.

Both WADA and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), who initially cleared Sinner in August, accepted he was accidentally contaminated with the banned substance by his physiotherapist.

Fans on centre court were given a first taste of joy by Rome-born Matteo Berrettini beating Jacob Fearnley in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) in his first match at his home tournament in four years.

Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, who withdrew from the Madrid Open with the latest in a long line of abdominal injuries, will face Madrid champion Casper Ruud in the third round with the Norwegian beating Alexander Bublik 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Andrey Rublev was dumped out at the first attempt by Hungary's Fabian Marozsan, to continue his poor form since winning in Dubai back in February.

Fourth seed Taylor Fritz also exited after going down 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) to fellow American Marcos Giron.

S.Wilson--ThChM