AO - Kvitová d Collins and first into final !

Day 11 of Australian Open 2019, and semi finals.

Opening match on Rod Laver Arena was:

Petra Kvitová (8) (CZE) v Danielle Collins (USA)

Petra was competing in her second AO semi final, (2012 her other), and Danielle her first - in fact her best effort at Melbourne Park before this was a third round loss in qualifying in 2018.

Before this, Danielle had lost her first round match in every GS main draw (5) that she had contested, including three in 2018.

So, 2019 had been a huge breakthrough at the highest level.

Petra also had performed the best at this level since coming back from the hand injury suffered with the home invasion in December 2016.

Apart from a quarter final in the 2017 US Open, Petra had failed to reach the round of sixteen since her comeback.

Kvitová served first.

A backhand winner in part fixed up two early unforced errors, and Kvitová held serve, Collins errors ending the game. 1-0.

Collins served a double fault, but she rebounded, forcing Kvitová into error and levelled 1-1.  Kvitová with a pair of forehand winners moved to 2-1.  Collins held again, another double fault not causing issues. 2-2.

Kvitová, with a double fault and two unforced errors, faced two break points.  One was saved, but a forced forehand error gave the game to Collins who led 3-2.

Collins saved four break back points, the fourth with an ace, but an unforced error presented Kvitová with a fifth, and a Czech forehand winner levelled the match 3-3.

Kvitová had 40-0 with an ace and a forehand winner, but was dragged back to 40-30, a double fault included.  Serve was held though and 4-3.  

A love game from Collins, started with a winning forehand, and 4-4.

Under the excessive heat policy, a decision was made to close the roof.

On resumption, a forehand winner from Collins and Kvitová trailed 15-30.  A lucky netcord and 30-30.  Big serving and 5-4.  Unforced errors from Kvitová and Collins held serve. 5-5.

Double fault from Kvitová and 15-15. Forehand winner and two game points.  One lost.  A Czech forehand error and deuce. A Kvitová winning forehand and eventually service held.  6-5.

A love game for Collins, full of Kvitová errors and a tie break arrived.

A backhand winner from Kvitová on the Collins serve, and the mini break 2-1.  4-1, maintaining the break.  A Collins forehand into the net and a double break 5-1 Kvitová.

5-2 after a Kvitová return sailed long.  Four set points after an ace from Kvitová.  A forehand winner and Kvitová won the opening set 7-6(2).

Collins served the opening game of set two, and with an ace had 15-15.

Two unforced errors and that put her in danger at 15-40.  A forehand winner from Collins saved one of the break points, but a forced backhand error cost the American her serve, and Kvitová led 1-0.

Despite a double fault, Kvitová held easily to consolidate the break. 2-0. 

Kvitová hit five winners, four from her forehand, to break the Collins serve once again and extend the advantage 3-0.

Two aces and two backhand winners from Kvitová for 4-0. 

Collins saved a break point thanks to a Kvitová unforced error, but two forced forehand errors produced a third straight break of the American serve.

Kvitová was serving for the match.

An overhead winner and 15-0.  Forehand winner 30-0.  A Czech backhand miss and 30-15.  Another error from Kvitová and 30-30.  Match point following a wide Collins forehand.  

A forehand winner ended it.

Petra Kvitová entered the 2019 Australian Open Women’s Singles Final, with a 7-6(2) 6-0 victory.

A fantastic achievement, and still not a set dropped throughout the tournament.