In the hallowed clay courts of Rome’s Foro Italico, Iga Swiatek’s 2025 Italian Open campaign crumbled in a stunning third-round defeat to Danielle Collins, a 6-1, 7-5 upset that sent shockwaves through the tennis world. The world No. 2, a three-time Rome champion, struggled mightily with her serve, winning just 25% of her second-serve points, a glaring weakness that former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs pinpointed as a critical flaw. With the French Open looming, Stubbs delivered pointed advice to Swiatek, urging the Polish star to overhaul her service motion to reclaim her clay-court dominance.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, entered Rome as a favorite, fresh off a commanding 6-1, 6-0 rout of Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Her 18-match straight-set win streak at the tournament and a 27-match opening-round victory run at WTA 1000 events underscored her pedigree. Yet, against Collins, her serve faltered spectacularly. Broken six times, including four in the first set alone, Swiatek landed just 39% of her first serves, a statistic that left her vulnerable. “When you are missing your first serve, which Iga is doing way too much on clay,” Stubbs remarked on her podcast, “you have to strategically think.” Her frustration was evident as she double-faulted and struggled to find rhythm, a far cry from the player who dominated Rome in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Stubbs, a seasoned coach who once guided Serena Williams, didn’t mince words about Swiatek’s service woes. “I absolutely hate her service motion. It is so discombobulated,” she said, critiquing its lack of fluidity. She highlighted Swiatek’s positioning, noting, “She takes the arm up, then the foot comes way too much to the front of her body. She should be way more side-on.” Stubbs suggested tactical adjustments, particularly in the ad court, where Swiatek’s predictable kick serve invites aggressive returns. “Stand over further, in the backhand court, I would have her move over a bit, use the kick serve and get her off the court on the first serve,” she advised, emphasizing the need for variety to counter opponents like Collins, who capitalized on Swiatek’s second-serve struggles.
The defeat marked a continuation of Swiatek’s challenging 2025 season. Without a title since her 2024 French Open triumph, she’s faced setbacks, including a Madrid semi-final loss to Coco Gauff and a Stuttgart quarter-final exit to Jelena Ostapenko, who holds a 6-0 head-to-head edge. “I’m not able to play my game,” Swiatek admitted post-match, her confidence shaken. Her collaboration with new coach Wim Fissette, who joined in October 2024, has yet to yield results, and Stubbs questioned his in-match guidance, saying, “I heard Wim say ‘play to win,’ like dude what no! How about give her a thought process, go through the middle on these returns and go for it.” Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli echoed concerns, noting Swiatek’s visible stress: “She’s missing shots she normally would never miss, the serve has been really difficult for her.”
Despite the criticism, Swiatek’s serve has shown progress. Her 50.1% second-serve win rate in 2025 ranks third among the top 20, and former player Andrea Petkovic defended her evolution, saying, “She was serving exclusively kick serves and now she also has the body serve.” Yet, Stubbs insists more is needed, particularly a slice serve to add unpredictability. “There is a lot of things she could improve to get a better serve and get more free points,” she stressed, noting Swiatek’s 5’9” frame should yield a more potent weapon.
As Swiatek prepares for Roland Garros, where she’s won four of the last five titles, the pressure is mounting. Her Rome loss dropped her to No. 4 in the WTA rankings, with Gauff and Jessica Pegula overtaking her. “Obviously, it would be stupid to expect a lot from Roland Garros,” Swiatek said, signaling a need to reset. With Stubbs’ advice ringing in her ears—focus on positioning, variety, and rhythm—Swiatek faces a defining moment. Can she transform her serve into a strength, or will it remain her Achilles’ heel on the Parisian clay?
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