Collins weathers Jabeur storm to reach French Open quarter-final for the first time
Unseeded American Danielle Collins advanced to the quarter-final of the French Open for the first time with a three set win over the 30th seed Ons Jabeur.
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Collins, the world number 57, took the first set 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier and was 3-0 up in the second before the Tunisian hit back to claim the second by the same score.
“I felt I was in the driver’s seat,” Collins told on-court interviewer Marion Bartoli after the match. “But she’s tricky and she started to serve really well and hit drop shots when I wasn’t expecting them. I lost my way and my rhythm.”
Collins was all at sea to such an extent that Jabeur got the early break to lead 2-1 in the decider but then she hit back to level at 2-2.
She then saved three break points on her way to taking a 3-2 lead. And then pocketed Jabeur’s serve to gain a 4-2 advantage.
Fight
Collins, who beat the 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza in the third round, failed to extend the advantage allowing Jabeur to return to 4-3. She lapped up the favour and it was all square at 4-4 after one hour and 52 minutes.
Collins regathered her composure to hold for 5-4 forcing Jabeur to serve to stay in the match.
She failed to rise to the challenge and it was all over in just under two hours.
What a feeling!
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 6, 2020
Danielle Collins reaches her first Roland-Garros quarter-final 6-4 4-6 6-4 over Jabeur. Plays fellow American Kenin next.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/gdilo1Nd5t
“I needed to stay positive,” added Collins. “And that’s what I did.”
The 26-year-old who reached the semi-finals at the 2019 Australian Open, will play the fourth seed Sofia Kenin for a place in the semi-finals.
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