Melbourne: Unheralded Danielle Collins battled from a set behind to down Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Tuesday and take her dream debut at the Australian Open into the semifinals.
The unseeded American beat World No. 44 Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in a see-sawing match to set up a final four clash with Czech Petra Kvitova who thrashed local hope Australian Ash Barty 6-1, 6-4.
The little-known 25-year-old Collins, who has mostly played on the US college circuit, grabbed the tennis world’s attention with a 6-0, 6-2 drubbing of second seed Angelique Kerber in the fourth round.
She was unable to repeat that sizzling form against Pavlyuchenkova but finished strongly in a feisty performance as her more experienced opponent wilted under pressure.
Collins, ranked 35 in the world, who has ousted three seeds on her way to the final four, said she was relishing playing on the big stage.
“Yeah it’s my first time to play on Rod Laver (Arena),” she said after her match. “I didn’t even practice on here. It was quite the experience. I really love it.”
Collins had never won a match at a Grand Slam in five previous attempts but is on a Cinderella run at Melbourne Park.
The Australians were pinning their hopes on Melbourne girl Barty, but a dominant Kvitova ran away with the match from the first game itself. She hit 14 backhand winners in the first set as Barty wilted under pressure.
Agencies