WTA - Brisbane 1/4 Finals - Keys v Collins

Day Five in Brisbane - quarter final time. 

2020 Brisbane International - a WTA Premier tournament, on Hard Greenset Cushion, in Brisbane, Australia, 4-12 January 2020.

Defending champion:

Karolína Plíšková (5) who defeated Lesia Tsurenko 4-6 7-5 6-2 

 

Quarter final #1

Danielle Collins v Madison Keys (8)

In a battle of the Americans, Danielle Collins entered the contest, having surrendered just three games in her first two matches, including a blitz of fourth seed Elina Svitolina in round one. However, her start against Keys was anything but smooth, dropping serve in the third game, albeit not gaining any fortune through the roll of the net.

The key strengths of Keys were on display, though, at appropriate moments, the serve and forehand working to her advantage.

Collins staved off a double break through some determination and winning shots familiar to the Brisbane crowd, and the 2019 AO semi finalist managed to stick close at 2-3.

Keys remained calm and in control from the line, holding for the loss of just a point, and the pressure was mounting on Collins. At 0-30, the situation worsened, shot selection far from ideal, but a couple of Keys mistakes helped alleviate concerns temporarily. A netted Collins forehand brought up break point but Keys found the net with a backhand to reach deuce. Eventually, serve was held, and Keys led 4-3.

Unforced Collins errors, a sizzling Keys backhand, followed by a routine ace, quickly took the eighth seed to within a game of the opening set.

Overpowering ground strokes appeared set to intimidate Collins, but she settled into rallies which ultimately drew Keys into error, and forced her opponent to serve for the set at 5-4. 

Serve backhand combo began the game well for Keys, and two errors form Collins provided three set points. A netted backhand gave the set to Keys 6-4.

Set Two and Collins began with three basic errors to donate two break points to Keys. One saved, but a Keys forehand winner broke and set her on a path to likely victory. Riding a wave of confidence, Keys finished off a service hold with a pair of aces and extended her advantage to 2-0.

Collins, on the other hand, had lost all faith in her capacity, contributing elementary mistakes, and feeding the Keys areas of strength. Two points for a double break were saved, and a wide forehand return from Keys gave Collins game point. She converted to trail 1-2.

A quick Keys love game immediately put the pressure back on Collins, and she was down 0-30 before long. A surprise serve to the Keys backhand, and a lovely forehand winner, weren’t enough to prevent another service break, and Madison Keys led 4-1 with serve to come.

Another swift hold of serve was likely until Keys dropped a couple of points. Rectified with a booming serve and a trip to 5-1.

A double fault and a sweet Keys winner had Collins at 15-30. A shot landing long gave Keys two match points. Fittingly she sealed it with a forehand winner. 6-4 6-1.