Collins will face Poland’s Iga Swiatek for a place in the final after the seventh seed overcame Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi in three tough sets.
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A resurgent Danielle Collins has joined her compatriot Madison Keys in the Australian Open semifinals. Collins defeated Alize Cornet with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday to reach her first grand slam last four in three years. The 27th-seed American came through an intense clash, in sweltering temperatures at Rod Laver Arena to get past French veteran Cornet. She will face Poland’s Iga Swiatek for a place in the final after the seventh seed overcame Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi in three tough sets.
2019 ? 2022
?? Danielle Collins fights her way back into the #AusOpen semifinals with a straight-sets win over Cornet! pic.twitter.com/BzqEvWLp4X
— wta (@WTA) January 26, 2022
Collins had surgery for Endometriosis in April, returning to action two months later. Now the 28-year-old has reached her second semifinal in Melbourne. Endometriosis is a condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body. After surgery and helped by medication, Collins says she is now having less painful periods and is able to train more consistently.
“It feels incredible. I think especially after some of the health challenges that I’ve had to be able to get back to this level and be able to compete the way that I have been, being able to be as physical as I have been has been so rewarding,” Collins said after the quarterfinal win.
“I got to the point where I could no longer manage without it,” she told the WTA website in August last year, adding that she was in extreme pain particularly during her menstrual cycles.
“Had I not had the surgery, I just couldn’t keep living my life like that. The agony that I experienced from my menstrual cycles and from the endometriosis is some of the worst pain I’ve ever had.”
Her performance against Cornet was evidence that the Floridian is a strong contender for the title. The 28-year-old was dominant from the baseline and proved she has the energy to compete in the sweltering Australian heat, powering through the second set in just 30 minutes.
The defeat was bittersweet for Cornet, who was in her first-ever grand slam quarterfinal after 63 attempts, but was unable to take it a step further.
“I have little regret, but I gave everything I had on the court today which was less than the previous day, but that’s what I said.” said the Frenchwoman.
