Iga Swiatek rallies for second-round victory over Caty McNally to avoid big Wimbledon upset after 'losing intensity'

Iga Swiatek came from a set behind to down Caty McNally on Centre Court and secure a third-round Wimbledon meeting with Danielle Collins. Swiatek, the No. 8 seed, was guilty of a swathe of unforced errors in the opening set as she gave the world No. 208 hope of clinching a major upset, but the five-time Grand Slam champion recovered in style, putting her undoubted quality firmly on display.

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Iga Swiatek avoided a huge upset as she recovered from a set down to beat Caty McNally over three sets in the second round of Wimbledon.

Swiatek avoided becoming the 15th women's seed to be ousted in the early stages at the All England Club as she recovered to dominate the second and third sets against McNally and claim a 5-7 6-2 6-1 victory.

The Pole's furthest Wimbledon run culminated with a quarter-final defeat to Elina Svitolina in 2023, but she might be looking to better that this month after seeing a number of top seeds fall early.

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Reflecting on her battling win over McNally, Swiatek said: "I think I lost my intensity. Obviously I know I can play well because I did at the beginning of the match, but I lost the quality, did some unforced errors. Then on grass I feel like the momentum can change pretty quickly. I let her back in the game.

"I was still trying to be proactive, but sometimes I missed easy shots. This for sure gave her space to push sometimes.

"Second and third set I played how I wanted to play. I'm happy I got back and played my game."

It was Swiatek who seized the initiative on Centre Court, springing into a 4-1 lead with an early break and looking as though she would make her superior ranking count. However, the tide of the match swiftly turned, and as previously showcased by the fallen seeds around her, in an unforgiving manner.

McNally put on a display of great tenacity to simply resist many of Swiatek's attempted winners. In return, the American began to welcome unforced errors from her opponent, and exerted some real pressure to alter balance of the first set.

After Swiatek desperately saved four break points, she eventually succumbed to McNally who was growing in stature. Courageous in her endeavour, it was now the American, who qualified for Wimbledon through her protected ranking, on the front foot.

Swiatek saved three break points to hold her serve for 5-4, but could not prevent being broken in her subsequent service game. A hold to love for McNally, and she was a set away from a historic Wimbledon victory.

A total of 17 unforced errors in the opening set did not make pleasant reading for Swiatek, and only forcing one break-point opportunity of her own showed much improvement was needed if she was to avoid an upset.

But upon a thorough check of her notebook at the interval, Swiatek appeared galvanised and ready to mount a comeback. McNally battled to save five break points before eventually being broken by Swiatek as the Pole ascended into a commanding position, going on to trade holds until finding a 5-2 lead and taking a set-clinching break.

Swiatek, now full of belief, was beginning to see her winners land, and her quality superseded that of McNally. An immediate break in the third set put the world No. 4 on her way on her way to a third-round clash against Danielle Collins.

It was a dominant third-set showing from Swiatek, who perhaps seized upon some physical and mental fatigue from her opponent - as she sprayed her ground-strokes deep and wide into the court, taking yet another break for a 4-0 lead to put herself into a surely insurmountable position.

McNally took a late hold to avoid the bagel, but Swiatek wrapped up victory on serve, albeit despite a late show of nerves and having to save three break points in a tense sequence of deuces.

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