10:57
The way of Świątek
Iga Świątek is also at the Happy Slam in Melbourne Park for the fourth time, but has not made it past the round of 16 so far. Recently, the Pole started with three easy matches against British qualifier Harriet Dart, Swede Rebecca Peterson and 25th seed Russian Daria Kasatkina. After that, the 20-year-old fell behind in sets in the round of 16 and quarter-finals and turned around the matches against Romanian Sorana Cîrstea and Estonian Kaia Kanepi. The last task in particular lasted a good three hours and was really tough – especially on the nerves.
10:50
Shortly
Apparently we’ll be able to start quite on time, because once again Ashleigh Barty is doing everything to ensure that the schedule doesn’t falter. The top seeded Australian just converted her first match point against Madison Keys after an hour of play and is the first finalist to be determined.
10:43
The Way of Collins
In the past week and a half, Collins has gained a lot of match practice and also played three doubles rounds alongside compatriot Desirae Krawczyk before the Czechs Barbora Krejčíková/Kateřina Siniaková, who were 1st seed and are now in the final, were a size too big. In singles, Collins started easily against the US qualifier Caroline Dolehide and the Croatian Ana Konjuh. It got really tight in the 3rd round against the Danish Clara Tauson and then against the 19th seeded Belgian Elise Mertens. For more than two and a half hours, Collins caught up a set deficit. Things went more smoothly in the quarter-finals against the unseeded French player Alizé Cornet.
10:34
Already in 2019 in the semifinals
Before this Australian Open, Collins had not even officially appeared in the new season. Her last tournament appearance was last November. The American also reached the semi-finals in Linz. Now she is playing in the main draw of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year for the fourth time. And Melbourne seems to suit her best of the top four tournaments. In 2019, Collins posted her best major result here and was surprisingly in the last four at the time.
10:25
Collins
Danielle Collins can undoubtedly be seen as a tournament surprise. The US-American, who was ranked 27th, was at best 23rd in the world rankings, but is currently 30th. The 28-year-old has only two career titles to her credit. However, the American showed a certain efficiency. If the right-hander was in a final, then she won it – like last year in the 250 in Palermo and in the 500 in San Jose, California.
10:16
Welcome
Welcome to the Australian Open! The second finalist is being sought in Melbourne. That’s what Danielle Collins and Iga Świątek will do from 11:00 a.m. CET in the second match of the semifinals.