By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 5, 2021
Serena Williams landed in Melbourne seeking her groove ahead of the Australian Open. But health is always a concern, and because of a sore shoulder she has pulled out of Saturday's heavily anticipated semifinal matchup with Ashleigh Barty.
The 39-year-old superstar showed growling serve and gritty desire defeating Danielle Collins 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 to secure a Yarra Valley Classic semifinal spot.
McEnroe: AO Should Play Best-of-Three-Set Matches
Moving fluidly, Williams was extended by the stubborn Collins, but lifted her level on pivotal points. Williams’ serve—she smacked eight aces and saved three of five break points—and her heavy strikes were the difference as she remained unbeaten in 2021.
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The seven-time Australian Open champion was looking at a blockbuster semifinal vs. world No. 1 Ash Barty, who subdued Shelby Rogers 7-5, 2-6, 10-4 in the day’s opening quarterfinal. But it wasn't meant to be.
A day after play was suspended following an AO hotel worker testing positive for Coronavirus, tennis resumed with a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2020 Australian Open final.
This time, Garbine Muguruza made her one-set lead stand sweeping second-seeded Sofia Kenin 6-2, 6-2 to avenge her 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 loss to the American in the AO final.
Muguruza slashed 10 aces against one double fault and served 73 percent largely muting Kenin’s vaunted return game to snap the American’s nine-match Melbourne winning streak.
A red-hot Muguruza has permitted just nine games in three tournament wins to reach her first semifinal since Rome last September.
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Four American women made the last eight of the Yarra Valley Classic. But none remain in contention.
Today’s all-American quarterfinal was the first meeting between the pair. The fifth-seeded Williams sought to make a statement at the start swatting an ace down T capping the opening game.
Quick off the mark, Williams went to work cracking Collins’ serve. Swooping forward for a swing volley, Williams earned a third break point and broke for 2-0 when Collins’ flat forehand found the net.
The serve, of course, is the most important shot in the game and will be key to Williams’ quest of matching Margaret Court’s record by winning her 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Spotting her serve effectively, Williams whipped another game-closing ace for 3-0 after 16 minutes of play.
Terrorizing Collins’ second serve, Williams won the first 10 points played on her compatriot’s second serve, including hammering a backhand return down the line to break again for 4-0.
Feistiness is a Collins asset. She turned frustration to fuel breaking the world No. 11 then roaring back from love-40 down to hold for 2-4.
A confident Collins used a slick drop shot-lob combination to earn a third break point in the seventh game. The seven-time Australian Open champion quieted the threat holding for 5-2.
Prowling the baseline to pounce on Collins’ second serve, Williams punished sharp returns snatching the opening set with her third break. Though Collins more than doubled Williams’ winners—11 to five—but the four-time Olympic gold-medal champion was brighter on bigger points. Williams won 11 of 12 points played on Collins’ second serve in the 41-minute opener.
Swinging freely at the start of the second set, Williams showed curl and crunch on serve slithering a sharp-angled ace wide then pounding her sixth ace holding for 2-1.
A 2019 Australian Open semifinalist, Collins can step into the court and take her two-hander on the rise sweeping that shot into the corner or rapping it down the line. Collins stayed in step throughout the second set slashing back returns to break for a 4-3 lead.
Staring down triple break point in the next game, Collins’ crawling drop shot, a flat forehand down the line and a Williams error brought her back to deuce. A scrambling Collins beat her stretched opponent at net rallying from love-40 down for the second time in the match to hold for 5-3.
The world No. 46 made the break stand serving out the second set to force a 10-point match tiebreaker.
Opening the breaker with a double fault, Williams relaxed and reeled off five points in a row to take command. A leaping smash and backhand return winner stretched her lead to 8-3. Williams, who opened the season beating US Open champion Naomi Osaka, curled a crosscourt forehand angle to end the match with her 24th winner.
Barty, like fellow Grand Slam champion Williams, started strong.
Pumping an ace out wide, Barty backed up the break with a love hold for 4-1.
Rogers stayed steady then broke back at love in the ninth game when Barty sprayed a couple of forehands.
Even after 10 games, Barty belted her seventh ace working through a solid hold for 6-5.
A pair of double faults from the American gave Barty a third set point. The top seed closed the 43-minute opener when Rogers sent a backhand beyond the baseline.
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Targeting the Barty backhand in attacking net, Rogers did some fine work in the frontcourt. Blocking a forehand volley behind the top seed gave Rogers her second break point of the day. A backhand return collided with the tape and dribbled over as Rogers broke in the fifth game of set two.
Hammering her serve down the T, Rogers confirmed the break at love for 4-2.
As Rogers picked up her intensity, Barty’s control wavered. Bungling a bounce smash into the bottom of the net, Barty faced another break point. Rogers read a second serve and zapped a clean return winner down the line scoring her second straight break.
Rogers rapped her third ace to seal the second set on a four-game burst and force the 10-point match tiebreaker all WTA events are using today.
Taking charge of the tiebreaker from the start, a relaxed Barty slid an ace and followed with a forehand down the line for 5-1. When Rogers sailed a backhand, Barty was through to her first semifinal since Doha last February.