Australian Open Highlights, women's semi-finals: Collins thrashes Swiatek, to face Barty in final

Danielle Collins is into the final

The fairytale run continues for Danielle Collins ✨

The American delivers an emphatic 6-4 6-1 victory to upset 7th seed Iga Swiatek and advance to her maiden Grand Slam final.

🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/NTeCwykXlE

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2022

Danielle Collins is into the final

Danielle Collins has been to the last-four before and now she is into the final for the very first time. That was a ruthless performance, a complete domination of Iga Swiatek to win 6-4, 6-1. Up next: Ashleigh Barty

Collins 6-4, 6-1 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Collins with a ruthless forehand winner on the return, moving up and going cross and Swiatek can only look at it go. Swiatek with a wry smile at the sheer helplessness of it all. Two match points for Collins. One saved with Swiatek thrashing a forehand and then moving up for the backhand winner. Another chance remains. Collins, once again, jumps up and attacks the second serve. Swiatek sends her backhand well long and Collins wins 6-4, 6-1

Collins 6-4, 5-1 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

If things weren’t going Swiatek’s way, Collins serving much bigger and better this set has made things even tougher. Finds the deep edge of the line on the second serve to make it 40-15. And then closes the game out by dispatching a short ball at the net

Collins* 6-4, 4-1 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

At 30-30, Collins gets her footing wrong and has to play a poor drop shot in the end. Swiatek runs forward and finishes the point out. Follows it up with a big serve down the T which produces an error. Swiatek is up on the board in the second

Collins 6-4, 4-0 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Collins put under a touch of bother on the serve but gets out of the jam in the end. A 172kmph first serve produces a short return and Collins rides forward to thrash a forehand winner.

Collins* 6-4, 3-0 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

This is just one-way traffic. Collins ripping big on serve return, one after another and Swiatek has no answer. At 0-40, Collins dispatches the serve for a forehand winner and Swiatek looks to be lost out there. Like a deer in front of a car. Collins is the car.

Collins* 6-4, 1-0 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Feeling of deja vu at the start of the second set. Collins thundering some huge backhand winners, going after the Swiatek serve and reaping early benefit with the break.

First set: Danielle Collins 6-4

Danielle Collins is one set away from her maiden Grand Slam final. She has been in sublime touch but for an errant serve while trying to close the set out. Iga Swiatek doesn’t look to be out of it completely

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— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) January 27, 2022

Collins 6-4 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Another opportunity to serve it out for Collins. And she is up and running much better this time. A 172kmph serve out wide for an ace makes it 30-0. And then 177kmph down the T brings up three set points. Fourth double fault of the match from Collins and that is one chance gone. She makes the second count. Fantastic rally from both players and it is Collins who comes out on top with Swiatek sending her forehand into the net. First set to Collins!

Collins* 5-4 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Anyway back to things I understand: tennis. Swiatek holds after Collins shanks the backhand return into the net. Danielle will once again serve for the opening set

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Collins 5-3 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Two set points come and go for Danielle Collins. Iga Swiatek ups the ante with some big forehands. Finds the American’s shoelaces and dispatches the return for a winner. On deuce, Swiatek sends the return long. On set point, Collins with a double fault. With the court gaping and plenty of time at her disposal, Collins goes for too much and sends the backhand wide. Swiatek with a break point now. Second double fault of the game and Swiatek is alive in this set.

Iga Swiatek needs plenty more of these shots

🧊 Ice cool from @iga_swiatek 💪

🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/Mhg4whH2x4

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2022

Collins* 5-2 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Iga Swiatek has her serve under pressure once again. Collins goes behind her on the backhand drive volley and sees it go for a winner. Two break points for the American. One saved by Swiatek with some really impressive aggressive tennis to make Collins miss a forehand. Another chance, on the second serve. Break! Tame forehand slice from Swiatek and Collins restores her two break advantage

Collins 4-2 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Swiatek with fierce forehands one after another and for a change she dictates the point. Forces Collins into an error and has a break point. Saved. Collins goes cross court and Swiatek errs. On deuce, Collins with her first double fault and Swiatek has another chance. Break! Swiatek gets one break back with some crunching forehands. Some go deep, some jump up and she closes the game out with a cross court winner. Huge roar to go with it!

Collins* 4-1 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Intimidating tennis from Collins right now. Every short ball by Swiatek is being dispatched with zero effort. The American staying up on second serve – which can explain her 0% on second serve points won. A double fault brings the game to deuce. Collins goes for a deep forehand return but it goes long. Chance for Swiatek to get on board. And she does. A lengthy rally, Collins forehand goes long and Swiatek holds.

Collins 4-0 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Danielle Collins is running away with this opening set. Little trouble in getting the advantage after the second break

Collins* 3-0 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Unplayable tennis from Collins. Gets down incredibly low and thrashes a backhand winner down the line. No chance for Swiatek to chase that down. And it brings up two break points. One saved with Swiatek going after Collins’ forehand and eking out an error. On second break point, Collins pushes Swiatek to the corner and challenges her into finding the sideline but she doesn’t. That is a double break advantage for the American.

Collins 2-0 *Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Collins with some meaty hitting from the back of the court and she consolidates the break by dropping just the one point on serve.

Collins* 1-0 Swiatek (* denotes next server)

Iga Swiatek won the toss and she decided to serve first. And Collins immediately making her strategy clear. The American aggressive from the get go and staying inside the court to return the ball. A double fault doesn’t help and eventually, Swiatek sends her forehand long. Break!

Get to know: Iga Swiatek

Age: 20

World ranking: 9

Prize money: $4,898,553

Career titles: 3

Grand Slam titles: 1 (French Open 2020)

Australian Open best: Semi-final (2022)

Coach: Tomasz Wiktorowski

Into her first semi-final at Melbourne Park on her fourth attempt. Previous best was making the fourth round in 2020 and 2021. 

Announced herself on the world stage by winning the French Open in 2020 without dropping a set, defeating Sofia Kenin in the final — the first Pole to win a Grand Slam singles title. She followed it up with titles in Adelaide and Rome last year.

Father is former Olympic rower Tomasz Swiatek, who competed in the men’s quadruple sculls event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Road to the semi-final:

1st rd: bt Harriet Dart (GBR) 6-3, 6-0

2nd rd: bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 6-2, 6-2

3rd rd: bt Daria Kasatkina (RUS x25) 6-2, 6-3

4th rd: bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

Quarter-final: bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3

Get to know: Danielle Collins

Age: 28

World ranking: 50

Prize money: $3,750,895

Career titles: 2

Grand Slam titles: 0

Australian Open best: Semi-final (2019, 2022)

Coach: No full-time coach

Making her second Australian Open semi-final appearance after her run to the last four in 2019. Before that she had never won a match at a major in five previous Grand Slams. Also made the last eight at Roland Garros in 2020.

Withdrew from Charleston last year to have surgery for endometriosis. On her return she won her first ever WTA titles at San Jose and Palermo. Hardcourts are the favourite surface for a player who only turned professional aged 22.

Road to the semi-final:

1st rd: bt Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1, 6-3

2nd rd: bt Ana Konjuh (CRO) 6-4, 6-3

3rd rd: bt Clara Tauson (DEN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

4th rd: bt Elise Mertens (BEL x19) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Quarter-final: bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-5, 6-1

Ashleigh Barty is through to the final

Ashleigh Barty at #AusOpen

1️⃣2️⃣ sets played, 1️⃣2️⃣ sets won

Max 4️⃣ games dropped in a set

6️⃣ hours 6️⃣ minutes on court in 6️⃣ matches

“I will come here on Saturday for the final with a huge smile in my face”pic.twitter.com/adyyWuaw8D

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 27, 2022

Ashleigh Barty is into the final

Barty beats Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour. Barty becomes the first home player to reach the final of the Australian Open women’s singles since Wendy Turnbull in 1980

Barty 6-1, 6-3 Keys (* denotes next server)

Keys not giving up without a fight. Backhand drop shot has Barty up at the net but the chip shot is not deep enough, Keys spanks a winner. Barty with another helpful serve to make it 15-15. Once again, Keys tries to send the ball deep only to send it long. Serve out wide and Keys’ return goes long. Two match points for Ashleigh Barty. Converted! Barty wins it 6-1, 6-3

Barty* 6-1, 5-3 Keys (* denotes next server)

Barty continues her run of forehand winners. Two more and she is racing away to the final. But not so soon, says Keys. Under the pump, Keys with a massive forehand winner down the line on the run. Beautiful shot. On 30-30, Keys runs around the Barty backhand slice and rips a 128kmph winner. Barty with an error and Keys stays alive for now.

Ashleigh Barty has been fantastic on break points when serving

Ashleigh Barty's opponents on break points this fortnight:

R1: 0/2
R2: 0/0
R3: 0/4
R4: 1/5
QF: 0/1
Tonight: 0/2#AusOpen Live: https://t.co/8XK2UvgRAM

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 27, 2022

Barty 6-1, 5-2 *Keys (* denotes next server)

A love hold for Barty and she is cruising right along towards the finish line.

Barty* 6-1, 4-2 Keys (* denotes next server)

Keys sees her unforced error count rise to 22 and Barty has two break points. Both saved, rather easily. Barty missing consecutive backhands and Keys is sticking around. On deuce, Barty with a low, short backhand slice return and Keys gets it back but leaves the court open. On break point, Barty brings Keys forward and then gently hits a forehand winner to get the break!

Barty 6-1, 3-2 *Keys (* denotes next server)

Incredible hustling from Keys. Keeps the point going with lovely defensive tennis and Barty’s drive volley goes into the net. 15-30 and Keys has a possible look to break. Shut slightly with a forehand winner from Ash. Barty’s error count rising with a backhand going wide. Keys has a break point. And Barty saves it. Jumps up to a short ball and then smashes the defensive reply. Keys goes for a deep forehand but overcooks it. Game point for Ash and converted. Keys scrambles but doesn’t get the ball back

Barty* 6-1, 2-2 Keys (* denotes next server)

Barty with a big forehand winner to bring the Keys serve to 40-30. And then Keys with an error on the backhand. On to deuce. Barty not finding the range on her slices and Keys has a chance to hold. Loud chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” as Keys readies to serve. This time Keys with a thundering backhand. Gets down low and changes the direction of play with a winner. Sweetly struck shot.

Barty 6-1, 2-1 *Keys (* denotes next server)

Barty dropping just one point in the first two serve games in the second set. Picking up from where she left off. Madison Keys doing wonderfully to stay in it by holding her own from 0-30 down

First set: Ashleigh Barty 6-1

Just 26 minutes is all Barty needed to take the first set 6-1 and has now won 11 straight sets. Keys not getting going just yet and not finding the free strokeplay that defines her. Barty with 7 winners, 4 unforced. Keys with three winners and 14 unforced

26 minutes for that first set

Blink and the first set is gone. Barty 6-1. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/luTZJdJceF

— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) January 27, 2022

Barty* 6-1 Keys (* denotes next server)

Barty with another trademark backhand slice that Keys sends into the net while looking to move up. At 15-30, Keys serves a double fault. The first of the match. On two set points, Keys second serve is dispatched for a forehand winner down the line. Set!

Barty 5-1 *Keys (* denotes next server)

Barty sends the backhand long at 30-0 and that is the first point Keys has won on the Ash serve. 10-0 on serve points becomes 10-1 and now 10-2 with Barty sending the forehand long now. 30-30 and that’s a possible look in for Keys. Deep serve for Barty, a second serve, and Keys doesn’t go into the attack, instead defensively plays the backhand into the net. Yet another error for Barty and that’s deuce. The errors coming out of nowhere from Barty. Keys finds the absolute edge of the baseline and it kicks up, Barty errs and a break point for Keys. Saved! Ace! Second ace of the match for Ash to bring it back to deuce. Keys hitting the ball much better now, especially the forehand, but Barty neutralises the threat by pushing her on the backhand. A defensive slice hits the net and Barty has chance to hold. Keys not having it. Puts the pressure on Barty once again and has her play a pass but it goes long instead. Barty with another pin-point serve and then Keys hits the return into the net. Hold.

Barty* 4-1 Keys (* denotes next server)

Keys serving bigger than before but not getting the dividends she would like. Goes for a big forehand down the line over the highest part of the net but finds the net. At 30-30, an error on the backhand and Barty has another break point. Break! A deep ball on to Keys forehand and a mishit hands Barty a second break of serve