The 2024 tennis season was filled with noteworthy stories, breakthrough moments, and countless trophy lifts. But what were the best matches of the year that was?
We rolled the tape, and this week, TENNIS.com is counting down some of the best WTA matches of the past year (with our ATP picks to come next week). Our countdown continues with the best Grand Slam matches of the season, and will conclude Friday with our overall Top 5 matches of the year. But who else stood out the most on the major stage?
5. Iga Swiatek def. Danielle Collins, Australian Open R2
Danielle Collins and Iga Swiatek were two of the major players of the 2024 tennis season, and set the tone for the year’s story when they played in the second round in Melbourne.
The American had a “feast-or-famine” history with Swiatek previously, famously routing her in the Australian Open semifinals just two years prior, and the 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win for Swiatek was both, all in one package. Swiatek trailed 4-1 in the final set, and 0-40 at serving down 4-3, before winning five consecutive games to cap off a stunning comeback.
“Oh my god, I was at the airport already,” Swiatek later joked in her on-court interview.
“I wanted to fight until the end,” she added. “I knew she played just perfectly but it would be hard for anybody to keep that level, so I wanted to be ready when more mistakes would come from the other side and I wanted to push then. I did that at the end and I’m really proud of myself. It wasn’t easy.”
