Day 9 of Australian Open 2019, and the first quarter finals. Opening match on Rod Laver Arena was:
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Danielle Collins (USA)
Collins served first.
One break point floated harmlessly by, but a Pavlyuchenkova forehand winner presented Collins with another issue, and she failed to deal with it, a forehand failure giving the Russian a 1-0 lead.
At 40-15, after delivering a winning forehand, Pavlyuchenkova was set to take a 2-0 lead. 17 minutes later she did, but only after enduring 11 deuces and saving 5 break points.
Collins dropped her second serve in much quicker fashion, saving one break point, but not the second. 3-0 Anastasia.
After failing to convert one break chance, Danielle slipped in a forehand winner to create a second opportunity. Pavlyuchenkova double faulted, and one of the breaks was returned. 1-3 Collins.
Still to hold serve, Collins was hit with a pair of Pavlyuchenkova backhand winners. Two break points emerged, and just the one was needed, a forehand error forced by Pavlyuchenkova who led 4-1.
5-1 after Pavlyuchenkova attacked the Collins forehand, producing three errors, before sealing the game with a forehand.
Collins held to love and at 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova served for set one.
It took eight minutes, but after saving break point with a backhand winner, and creating game point with an ace, Collins simply wilted with an unforced error. 6-2 Pavlyuchenkova.
In set two, things were travelling nicely with neither player having to deal with break points, until the fourth game, where Pavlyuchenkova ran into trouble. Leading 40-15, she double faulted, then missed out with shots from both wings, giving a break point to a grateful Collins. So grateful, she responded with a winning forehand and jumped ahead 3-1.
No other break chances until after Pavlyuchenkova held for 3-5.
Serving for the set, Collins delivered a double fault and Pavlyuchenkova a backhand winner which meant the American faced two break back points.
A second backhand winner on the first of these by Pavlyuchenkova and games were 5-4 in Collins’ favour.
5-5 following a service hold to 15 by Pavlyuchenkova, highlighted by an ace and forehand winner.
A Collins ace, and three unforced Pavlyuchenkova errors combined for a service hold to the USA, and 6-5 Collins.
Nothing of any value from the commentators at this point so more patronising remarks directed towards the two players, when silence was preferable.
Pavlyuchenkova serving and two game points wasted. Collins with a backhand winner created set point but it was saved, as was a second, but the third was treated with a forehand winner by Collins and she took the set 7-5. A decider was required.
Two winners and an ace in the opening game of set three for Collins as she held for 1-0.
Asserting authority, Collins was forcing Pavlyuchenkova into error, in turn allowing shots such as her forehand to produce winners and shut down games including this one. 2-0.
More winners and another ace - Collins was flying and had a 3-0 advantage.
Collins forced a backhand error then hit a forehand winner, and Pavlyuchenkova faced two more break points. A forced forehand mistake and the lead for Collins was 4-0.
Two aces ended the fifth game which was served to love by Collins who was staging a one woman show for RLA spectators. 5-0.
Pavlyuchenkova had 40-15, but like a few times before that scoreline wasn’t safe.
Unforced errors sent it to deuce and later a Collins backhand produced break point. Eventually Pavlyuchenkova held serve, and at least she registered a score. 1-5.
A backhand winner from Collins, when serving for a semi final spot, created match point. It was saved by a Pavlyuchenkova forehand winner.
Another Collins winning backhand presented a second match point.
This time a Pavlyuchenkova unforced error ended the contest.
Danielle Collins won the match 2-6 7-5 6-1 and was now in a Grand Slam tournament semi final.
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