American tennis player Danielle Collins qualified for the quarterfinals of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year – the Australian Open.
The 28-year-old Danielle Collins defeated the Belgian Elise Mertens in a nearly three-hour clash with 2-1 (4:6, 6:4, 6:4) and secured reaching the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament. The American made 45 winners, versus only 33 of her opponent. However, she was not precise enough and made 41 unforced errors. The strong weapon of Elise Mertens was the service and she made 8 aces, but also 9 double faults.
Danielle Collins took the lead in the first set after registering a break already in the second game. However, the Belgian player returned the break for 3:2 and even made another one for 3:4. She won her service games and won the set with 4:6.
The second set started again with an early break for Danielle Collins, but this time she was better in her service games. However, Elise Mertens returned to the match after breaking the service of the American for 5:4, but when was serving to tie the set, lost the game on zero and gave the set to Danielle Collins.
The third set started equally for both players. They exchange one game on their own service and register one break in the next. The result was running tie to 4:4. Danielle Collins won her next service game on 30 and took a lead of 5:4. However, the service of Elise Mertens was not good enough and she gave 2 match points to the American at 15:40. However, Danielle Collins lost them, but after a deuce, she got another advantage and chance for winning the match, which she secured and won the set with 6:4.
The next opponent of the American Danielle Collins will be the winner between Simona Halep and Alize Cornet.
