By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday February 29, 2024
The American came from a set and break down, edging past American Katy Volynets in three.
Photo Source: Getty
Playing in her final season on tour, Danielle Collins has continued to function as an engine that could. On Thursday in Austin she could – and did. The American braved cold weather and several visits from the trainer to rally from a set and break down to defeat Katie Volynets 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0 at the ATX Open
It was the typical grit that we've come to expect from Collins. Though she has suffered myriad debilitating injuries over the course of her career, she has never been one to shy away from the challenge. And as the sun sets on her career in 2024, she continues to fight through the pain to earn her wins.
"I knew today when I woke up it wasn’t going to be great, and I just had to try to do everything that I could. It wasn’t ideal, but the main thing is that I figured out a way to win,” Collins said after her win.
The 30-year-old former World No.7 will face China’s Wang Xiyu in the last eight on Friday.
Wang. seeded sixth, defeated Darja Semenistaja 6-1, 6-2.
Volynets took a tight opening set then broke for a 5-4 lead against third-seeded Collins in the second set. But she couldn’t take it to the finish line as Collins broke back, forced a tiebreaker and then proceeded to run the table from that point.
The World No.48 finished with 39 winners and was a perfect six for six on break points against 112th-ranked Volynets. Collins improves to 11-5 on the season with her win.
Elsewhere on a blustery day in Austian, Anastasia Sevastova took out No.2-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2, while Anna Karolina Schmiedlova defeated Sachia Vickery 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-5.