Tennis news - Danielle Collins fights back to reach first-ever Grand Slam semi-final
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ByEurosport
Updated 22/01/2019 at 09:39 GMT
Danielle Collins fought back from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6 7-5 6-1 to reach her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final.
Danielle Collins of the US reacts after a point against Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during their women's singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images
Collins had never won a Grand Slam match heading into Melbourne, but after beating Julia Gorges and Caroline Garcia, the 25-year-old stunned second seed Angelique Kerber 6-0 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
And that stunning run continued against Pavlyuchenkova, and awaiting the 25-year-old in the semi-final will be either Ashleigh Barty or Petra Kvitova.
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The moment American Collins sealed spot in Grand Slam semi-final
Pavlyuchenkova broke immediately, before saving five break points in a marathon 17-minute second game, which proved to be the only hold in the first five games.
Serving at 5-2 up, Pavlyuchenkova squandered one set point before then being forced to save a break point, but she converted her second opportunity to lead after 49 minutes.
However, Collins steadied herself, taking the claiming two breaks of serve in the second set to send their quarter-final to a deciding set, a set completely dominated by the American.
Pavlyuchenkova defended one match point to avoid the ignominy of final-set bagel but world number 35 Collins was not to be denied taking the match on the third match point.
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Collins - 'I love it on Rod Laver Arena, I feel so at home here'
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