Danielle Collins ended Alize Cornet's dream run and reached her second Australian Open semi-final with a straight-sets win on Wednesday.
Collins moved into the last four in Melbourne for the second time in four years thanks to a 7-5 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena on Australia Day.
The American 27th seed, who will face either Iga Swiatek or Kaia Kanepi in the semi-finals, was in solid form in warm conditions.
Collins was the aggressor throughout against Cornet, who was playing her maiden grand slam quarter-final in her 63rd main-draw appearance.
It was Collins who dictated the majority of points from the baseline early and landed a break of serve in the fourth game.
Cornet saved three break points, but there was no denying Collins on her fourth opportunity, a powerful return setting up a simple volley winner for a 3-1 lead.
Collins looked the more comfortable in the warm weather, but Cornet hung in there and broke back when her opponent was trying to serve out the first set, the American's backhand letting her down with three unforced errors.
But Cornet dropped the first set when serving to stay in it, saving two set points but not a third – set up with a Collins forehand winner down the line – as she framed a forehand long.
Collins crushed a forehand return winner to break serve in the second game of the second set to take complete control of proceedings.
She broke to love to grab a 4-0 lead, cruising through the second set on her way to another last-four appearance in Melbourne.
DATA SLAM: Contender Collins finding consistency
The dangerous Collins has found consistency since the back end of last year.
She is now 31-7 since July 12, 2021 and will be hard to stop by either Swiatek or Kanepi in the semi-finals.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Collins – 28/29
Cornet – 11/17
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Collins – 5/4
Cornet – 2/0
BREAK POINTS WON
Collins – 4/9
Cornet – 1/3
