Danielle Collins has never been shy about speaking her mind, and when it comes to Iga Swiatek, she’s made it clear there’s no love lost. The tension between the two has been simmering for a while, but things really came to a head during the 2024 Olympics. That’s when Collins suffered an injury during a match against Swiatek and later accused the world No. 2 of being “insincere” in her reaction.
Collins didn’t go into specifics, but the implication was that Swiatek’s on-court concern didn’t match her behavior behind closed doors. Locker rooms don’t have cameras, and Collins seemed to be suggesting that what fans saw on the court wasn’t the full story.
Swiatek, for her part, hasn’t responded to any of Collins’ comments over the years-and she hasn’t needed to. The rivalry, at least in terms of public comments, has been mostly one-sided.
Fast forward to the 2026 Australian Open, and Collins-who’s sitting this one out for health reasons-is once again weighing in on Swiatek, this time with a prediction that’s sure to raise eyebrows. Speaking on the Tennis Channel ahead of the tournament, Collins made it clear: she doesn’t think Swiatek is going to make a deep run in Melbourne.
“It’s probably no surprise to people that follow tennis that I am going to go with Swiatek,” Collins said, before adding, “I was a little bit concerned with her performance at the United Cup, two back-to-back losses, so I think there is a little bit of trouble in paradise for her right now.”
That’s a pointed take, especially considering Swiatek’s pedigree. She’s already won three of the four majors and has held the No. 1 ranking for extended stretches.
But Melbourne has been her toughest Grand Slam so far. She’s reached the semifinals twice, but never the final.
And on hard courts, especially in the Australian summer heat, her game can be vulnerable to power hitters who take the ball early and don’t let her settle into long rallies.
Players like Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina-both of whom are in Swiatek’s quarter of the draw-fit that mold. If the seedings hold, Swiatek could face Rybakina in the quarterfinals, a matchup that has historically been tricky for the Pole. But according to Collins, Swiatek might not even make it that far.
It’s true that Swiatek’s 2026 season hasn’t gotten off to the smoothest start. She dropped two matches at the United Cup, including a lopsided loss to Coco Gauff.
Whether that’s early-season rust or a sign of deeper issues remains to be seen. But in a sport where momentum and confidence can shift quickly, it’s not out of the question that Swiatek could find her rhythm in Melbourne.
Still, Collins’ comments add an extra layer of intrigue. This isn’t just about predictions-it’s about a rivalry with some real edge. Swiatek won’t need any bulletin board material to get motivated, but if she did, Collins just handed it to her.
The Australian Open kicks off Saturday, and Swiatek will open her campaign against qualifier Yuan Yue. It’s a chance for the world No. 2 to quiet the noise and make a statement on a court that’s eluded her so far. Whether she goes the distance or not, one thing’s for sure: Danielle Collins-and the rest of the tennis world-will be watching.