In a surprising twist, Danielle Collins, a former tennis player turned analyst, has set aside her icy past with Iga Swiatek and made a bold prediction about the Polish star's future. But is it a prediction that will spark debate?
Despite their less-than-friendly history, Collins believes Swiatek, the current world No. 2, will achieve an extraordinary feat: winning 10 or more Grand Slam titles before retiring. This forecast comes as Swiatek continues to dominate the tennis scene, having recently improved her Grand Slam count to six with her first Wimbledon win last summer.
The Polish sensation, who burst onto the scene as a Slam champion at the 2020 French Open, has consistently secured at least one Major title annually since then. Among active players, only the legendary Venus Williams boasts more Grand Slam triumphs, with seven under her belt.
During her stint as an analyst for Tennis Channel, Collins was asked about Swiatek's and Sabalenka's potential to reach the 10-Slam milestone. Sabalenka, who will turn 28 just ahead of the French Open, has already claimed four Major titles.
Collins didn't hold back, stating, 'Swiatek getting to 10 Grand Slams is a no-brainer.' She elaborated on Tennis Channel's The Big T Podcast, 'I am banking on both of them. They have the skills to keep adding Grand Slams to their collection.'
But here's where it gets controversial. Collins, who once had a tense encounter with Swiatek at the 2024 Paris Olympics, calling her 'fake' after retiring from their match, also shared her thoughts on Swiatek's mental game. 'When she is playing her best tennis and is in a good mental headspace, nothing is impossible,' Collins added.
And this is the part most people miss: Collins had previously predicted that Swiatek would be the player to exit early at the Australian Open, but the Polish star proved her wrong by reaching the quarterfinals. So, is Collins' latest prediction a genuine belief or a strategic move to spark conversation?
What do you think? Is Collins' prediction a fair assessment of Swiatek's potential, or is there more to this story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
