If Iga Świątek is crowned Australian Open champion at the end of the tournament, she may have to thank The Rolling Stones. 

The legendary British rock band were blaring through the world number one’s headphones as she entered Rod Laver Arena to face Danielle Collins in the second round on Thursday.

It was a match in which Świątek was staring at the prospect of an early exit from the season-opening major after she dropped consecutive service games to trail her American opponent 1-4 in the third and final set.

But the Pole regained her focus when it counted, winning five consecutive games to ice a tense 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win after three hours and 14 minutes on court.

And this is where The Rolling Stones played their part in keeping Świątek’s Australian Open hopes alive.

“I feel like when I’m really well-focused I am kind of repeating the same song throughout the whole match,” Świątek told her post-match media conference.

“It gives me energy and I can kind of narrow my focus just to that song that I keep hearing and the technical stuff that I want to think about.

“I don’t like when my brain is kind of picking up the songs from the changeovers [during a match] because every time is a different one.

“I want to keep hearing The Rolling Stones.”

Despite winning the first set, Świątek did not look comfortable early, although the four-time major winner seemed headed for victory when she broke Collins in the opening game of the second.

But Collins, who defeated Świątek in the Australian Open semifinals in 2022, proceeded to win the next five games, allowing her to serve for the set.

Świątek claimed one service break back but it was not enough to prevent Collins from forcing a third and final set.

The former world number seven was only two games away from victory in the third, but Świątek never gave up.

“I was kind of sure that she was going to have trouble maintaining that level throughout the whole match,” Świątek said.