By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, September 15, 2023

 

Danielle Collins will face former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and Sofia Kenin takes on Emma Navarro in the San Diego semifinals.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Danielle Collins continues to reinforce her reputation as dangerous deseeder in San Diego.

An assertive Collins swept second-seeded Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-3 to roll into the semifinals of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open for the second straight year.

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It's the second straight San Diego semifinal for Collins, who stopped the seventh-seeded Garcia 6-2, 7-6(4) in her San Diego opener last year then went on to topple second-seeded Paula Badosa 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the semifinals.

In Thursday's quarterfinal rematch with Garcia, Collins controlled the center of the court and served with clarity.

“I felt like I was really feeling my shots, my game,” Collins told Richard Osborn afterward. “I was really in a good head space and flowing the whole match.

"Caro played some great tennis and certainly challenged me off of her serve and her returns. I just tried to play solid first balls and hang in there.”


World No. 43 Collins also reached the San Diego doubles semifinals partnering Coco Vandeweghe.

The road to the singles final won't be easy as Collins faces former French Open singles and doubles champion Barbora Krejcikova for a spot in the final.

The fourth-seeded Czech defeated seventh-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil, 6-4, 6-3.

“It’s super difficult to play Bia,” Krejokova told Richard Osborn. “I played Adoubles with her a couple of times. I really like her. She’s also a fan-favorite.

"I felt that tonight. I knew she was going to fight until the end. I was just hoping I was going to serve it out.”

The semifinal will be the first meeting between world No. 13 Krejcikova and former Australian Open finalist Collins.

Qualifier Emma Navarro lit up the night session upsetting third-seeded Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(4).



World No. 61 Navarro scored her first career Top 10 win showing tremendous poise in the decisive tiebreaker to reach her first Tour-level semifinal.

“It feels good,” said Navarro, who will crack the Top 50 next week. “A lot of ups and downs not just today but in my whole tennis career. To be standing here now having gotten my first Top-10 win is really special.

“I think both of us had stints there where we weren’t playing our best tennis. I think at the end of the third set, I kind of found my game. I tried to play through her forehand more.”

Navarro will face compatriot Sofia Kenin for a place in the final.

The 2021 Australian Open champion Kenin conquered Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-3 for her second semifinal of the season.

"I feel like she’s had a great year overall,” Kenin said of Potapova, who upset top seed Ons Jabeur in the round of 16. “I just had to do my best.

"I didn’t think about how she was doing; I just tried to focus on my game plan and what I needed to do.”