Collins overcomes Cornet to reach second Australian Open semi-final
American Danielle Collins ends Alize Cornet’s run at the Australian Open to advance to the semis in Melbourne for the second time in four years
Danielle Collins of the U.S. celebrates winning her quarter final match against France’s Alize Cornet at the 2022 Australian Open
Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic
Australian Open 2022 | Draw | Order of play
Prior to their quarter-final clash, Alize Cornet described Danielle Collins as “a lion”. On Wednesday, Cornet got to experience Collins’ intensity and roar first-hand as the two clashed in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Collins’ firepower proved too much for the Frenchwoman as the American won 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 28 minutes to reach the last four at Melbourne Park for the second time in four years.
Alize Cornet fights back in the first set but Danielle Collins prevails
The 28-year-old Collins was fast out of the blocks, breaking early to go ahead 5-2. Cornet, who reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final this fortnight in her 63rd attempt, fought back to level the set at 5-5. But Collins broke once again in the 12th game to win the first set.
The second set was dominated by Collins as she broke Cornet’s serve twice to go up 4-0 and then held her advantage to book her spot in the semis.
Collins dominated the match with the help of her serve, winning 90 percent of her first serves compared to 51 percent for the Frenchwoman. Collins also won 47 percent of return points, compared to just 25 percent for Cornet. As usual, the American was the player forcing the play during the match, hitting 28 winners (with 29 unforced errors) while Cornet hit 11 winners (with 17 unforced errors).
The win was all the way sweeter for Collins, who underwent surgery for endometriosis in the first half of last year and had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a few years ago.
The American will next meet either seventh seed Iga Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, or Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi on Thursday.
