By Erik Gudris | @ATNTennis | Friday, June 4, 2021
Seventh-seeded Serena Williams raised her game at the right time to defeat fellow American Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-4 in Paris.
Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty
“The joy of being Serena. I always have to be at my A game.”
Very true words from the former three-time Roland Garros champion Serena Williams who raised her level to reach the fourth round in Paris for the first time since 2018.
More: Barty's Brutal Exit Caused by Freak Injury
The seventh-seeded Williams needed her best to close out a competitive 6-4, 6-4 win over fellow American and friend Danielle Collins.
Many expected Collins, now back on tour after undergoing surgery two months ago for endometriosis, to make it a tough test for Williams. Both women like to play first strike tennis, and each sought to put pressure on each other, especially on their opponent’s second serves.
The first set remained close until 3-all. Then, Williams secured the first service break thanks to a deft volley winner that drew applause from the crowd on hand at the Philippe Chartier court.
Williams, with back-to-back aces and then a swing volley winner, opened up a 5-3 lead. A few games later, Williams closed out the set 6-4.
Williams had hit five aces by this stage, along with 15 winners to just nine unforced errors.
When Williams broke Collins’ serve again to start the second set, it appeared she might be on her way to a relatively easy win. But that’s when the momentum shifted for the currently 50th ranked Collins.
Collins, who reached the quarterfinals last year, took advantage when Williams’ level dropped. That included when Williams double faulted down break point to let Collins back in the set for 1-all.
Former NCAA champion Collins soon marched out to a 4-1 lead with several potent backhand winners and looked poised to perhaps force a deciding set.
Williams began exhorting herself with several loud “Come on’s!” to try and will herself back in the set. That seemed to do the trick as Williams found several big serves to hold in the next game.
The 39-year-old Williams added more pace to her shots that Collins couldn’t handle from the baseline. Williams, with a big return on break point, found herself back on serve.
From there, Williams took command as Collins started to fade away. With Collins’s first serve percentage dipping to 43%, it allowed Williams to enforce herself with her returns. Facing another break point at 4-all, Collins committed an untimely forehand error to give Williams the lead for 5-4.
With the sun now appearing after rain earlier in the day, Williams stepped to the line to serve out the match. Though she fell behind 0-30, she quickly recovered with several potent serves to find herself at match point. Williams struck one more big serve that Collins couldn’t handle to secure the 6-4, 6-4 win.
At the net, both shared a congratulatory hug.
Williams now finds herself the highest-seeded player left in the bottom half of the women’s draw. Earlier in the day, No. 31 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocked out No. 3 seed and recent Madrid winner Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 6-0.
Next up for Williams is the No. 21 seed Elena Rybakina who earlier in the day defeated Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-4. Rybakina, who has never faced Williams, explained why she is looking forward to the fourth round meeting.
“The legend of the sport,” Rybakina said when asked to describe Williams, “Of course I want to be with her on the court, to feel this power and everything. I was watching her matches when I was growing up, and it will be nice to play with Serena. Why not?”