| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| P. Kvitova (CZE) (8) | 7(7) | 6 |
| D. Collins (USA) | 6(2) | 0 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by P. Kvitova | 6 - 0 | P. Kvitova leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by P. Kvitova | 7(7) - 6(2) | P. Kvitova leads 1 to 0 |
Petra Kvitova is back to her best and will be looking to qualify for another grand slam final as she takes on the surprise packet of the Australian Open, Danielle Collins. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the first women’s semi-final from 2pm (AEDT).
This is going to be another match dominated by power, but the story of Collins has been quite something to follow over the last fortnight, as she broke through and made a name for herself at Melbourne Park.
She has quickly become known for her antics and aggressive style, whether that be to her own game or opposition players.
Antics or not, the run Collins has had throughout the tournament has been phenomenal. The world No.35, who couldn’t even get a seed when it got underway a week and a half ago, has knocked Julia Goerges, Sachia Vickery, and more impressively, Caroline Garcia, Angelique Kerber and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The victories over Garcia and Kerber, both in straight sets, were particularly brutal. Kerber is one of the best defensive baseline players in the world, but simply had no way of defending the weapons at the other end of the court.
Still, this is going to be a different match altogether for Collins, given the weapons Kvitova possesses.
Kvitova herself has been on a roll, and while she hasn’t taken on the same quality players across the tournament, is yet to lose a single set.
The way she was able to dismantle Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals sent a message to everyone watching – that you be better be prepared to defend, grind and scrap, and if you fall off your level for a single second, the serve and aggressive returning game of Kvitova will ram any minor advantage home.
For Collins, this is undoubtedly the biggest match of her career. If she is to win, she needs a good start to settle nerves, and then to maintain her top level for the entirety of the match.
It is, however, worth noting that the pair played in Brisbane at the start of the season, with Kvitova taking three sets to go past Kvitova.
Prediction
Despite the form of Collins, who has continually proven everyone wrong over the last fortnight by knocking off big player after big player, this will be the end of the line as the weight of expectation and enormousness of the situation finally gets the better of her.
Kvitova in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this first women’s semi-final at the 2019 Australian Open from 2pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 2pm (AEDT)
Court: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
TV: Live, Channel 9
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Kvitova $1.22, Collins $4.40
Overall record: Played 1, Kvitova 1, Collins 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of this one on The Roar as Petra Kvitova beat Danielle Collins in the first semi-final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Shortly, we will move onto the second women's semi-final, with Karolina Pliskova set to take on Naomi Osaka. Be sure to join me for that one. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Petra Kvitova defeats Danielle Collins in straight sets The Australian Open run for unseeded American Danielle Collins has come to an end, with Petra Kvitova taking a straight sets victory to advance to her first Australian Open final. While the match started with the roof open in sweltering conditions, it was once the roof closed where Kvitova proved her quality, racing away with a huge second set performance where she didn't so much as let Collins win a game. At 4-4 in the first set, it was clear Kvitova was struggling to deal with the heat, as Collins attempted to make things physical. Collins, clearly put off by the roof closing, lost 7-2 in the tiebreaker at the end of the first set after managing to hold serve twice more, but that would be all there was to write home about for the American, who was blasted off the court by Kvitova under the roof. Kvitova now takes on the winner of Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka, who will play their semi-final next on Rod Laver Arena. Kvitova... 7 6 Collins.... 6 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, PETRA KVITOVA Fault now. The second is returned on the forehand, but then Kvitova hits a forehand to the baseline, another inside in and she is through to her first grand slam final. Kvitova... 7 6 Collins.... 6 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kvitova. She will challenge, but that looked long. And it was. The second is returned aggressively, before Collins is ran around the court, hits a forehand wide and here is match point. Kvitova... 7 5 - 40 Collins.... 6 0 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kvitova serves out wide and Collins returns well, before Kvitova sends the forehand long. Kvitova... 7 5 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve swinging away down the T, then Collins hits some nice looking forehands, before Kvitova slices a backhand long. Kvitova... 7 5 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Big serve down the middle, short return and the forehand is nailed away. Kvitova... 7 5 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kvitova with the wide serve, a forehand back in behind, then an overhead drilled through the court as she came up to the net. Kvitova... 7 5 - 15 Collins.... 6 0 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault once more. The second this time is returned with great depth, then Collins puts a forehand wide backpedalling. Kvitova one game away from the victory now. Kvitova... 7 5 - Collins.... 6 0 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Collins yet again. The second is hit out wide, returned crosscourt and here is another break point with Collins unable to get it back over. Kvitova... 7 4 - AD Collins.... 6 0 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Collins. The second is ran around on the forehand and Collins battles to stay in the point, but then plays a good backhand Kvitova makes the unforced error. Kvitova... 7 4 - Collins.... 6 0 - deuce (2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Collins now caught playing short and slow. Huge hitting from Kvitova and she has a point for the triple break now. Kvitova... 7 4 - AD Collins.... 6 0 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Collins. The second this time around is returned with good depth, then Collins puts a backhand long up the centre of the court. Kvitova... 7 4 - Collins.... 6 0 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, returned long. Kvitova... 7 4 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Good ball striking from Collins after a good serve. Goes to the corner on the backhand, then comes to the net and puts it away. Kvitova... 7 4 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Collins was right on the back foot this time, but managed to get one away crosscourt with Kvitova putting a forehand into the net. Kvitova... 7 4 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Double fault. Kvitova... 7 4 - 30 Collins.... 6 0 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Collins with a wide serve to the forehand side, then she puts a ball wide out the other side off the baseline. Great depth on the return. Kvitova... 7 4 - 15 Collins.... 6 0 - 0