Collins moves past Pavlyuchenkova, into Australian Open semis
January 22, 2019 07:56 MYT
Danielle Collins continued her fairytale run at the Australian Open, reaching the semi-finals with a three-set win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old American found her range after a poor start to claim a 2-6 7-5 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
Collins had never won a main-draw match at a grand slam before this tournament, but will now play either Petra Kvitova or Ashleigh Barty for a place in the final.
The result extended Pavlyuchenkova's losing run in quarter-finals, the Russian now holding a 0-5 record in last-eight singles matches at grand slams.
Danielle #Collins keeps the dream alive! The world no. 35 becomes the first woman into the #AusOpen semis by defeating #Pavlyuchenkova 2-6 7-5 6-1.#GameSetMatch #AOFiredUp pic.twitter.com/NArH3cgKla
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2019
Collins – who thrashed Angelique Kerber in the fourth round – was overly aggressive early and she was left to rue her failure to break Pavlyuchenkova during a 17-minute second game.
That allowed Pavlyuchenkova to take control while Collins continued to push, but with little success.
Pavlyuchenkova closed out a 49-minute set when Collins sent a wild backhand well wide.
Needing a response, Collins found it to begin the second set, a swinging forehand winner giving her a break for 3-1.
Pavlyuchenkova broke back – to 15 – in the ninth game before Collins struck again to take the set with a forehand winner.
Collins carried that momentum into the final set and was in complete control, grabbing an early break with a wonderful forehand cross-court return winner.
Far more controlled from the baseline, Collins was dictating play and won seven straight games before Pavlyuchenkova broke the run, but it was far too late.
#Collins had never made it past the 1R of any major. She's now won 7 games in a row vs #Pavlyuchenkova and is ONE game away from her first SF! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/6ovJ6nxgxo
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2019
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
BREAK POINTS WON
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
TOTAL POINTS