Collins defeats Sakkari to advance to finals in Charleston

Collins destroys Sakkari 6-3, 6-3 reach the final of the Charleston Open

In the penultimate round of the Credit One Charleston Open, American Danielle Collins continued to shine in her final season on tour. Playing with no pressure and total dedication was perhaps the most inspiring tennis of her illustrious career.

Fresh from her stunning performance in Miami, where she lifted her first trophy at VTA 1000 level, double NCAA The champion shows no signs of slowing down. The 30-year-old Floridian took # place.71 at the beginning of the season. She achieved a career high ranking #7 in summer 2022 and earlier that season reached her only Grand Slam final at the Australian Open (l. Osaka). She is currently on the cusp of the top twenty, but could very well finish her career back in the top ten.

Her semi-final opponent has also enjoyed a resurgence this season, especially since she joined forces with renowned trainer David Witt. Maria Sakkari was poised for greatness, achieving career-high ranking #3 in the spring 2022. The 28-year-old Greek seemed to have all the necessary tools to maintain her dominance at the top of the sport, but wild swings in confidence and direction held her back.

Daniel Collins (ur.AP)

During the Sunshine Double, she reached the final in Indian Wells (l. Swiatek) and the quarterfinals in Miami, losing in three tight sets to Elena Rybakina. After four years without a title, the Athens native won the tournament VTA 1000 event in Guadalajara (Dolehyde) at the end of last season.

While Sakkari was leading in a head-to-head battle 2-1, this was their first meeting at tour level on clay. Collins was victorious in their last meeting last summer in Montreal. A semi-final bout for each of them was promised and, for the most part, delivered.

Collins won the toss and elected to serve. She opened the game with a blistering backhand down the line and held ground with her opening ace. 15 while Sakkari opened the scoring with a clean forehand, faced a double break point and broke serve.

The American missed 3/6 first serves but sticks thirty with an outstanding backhand down the line to seal the break, while Sakkari, despite a double fault, got on the board with a fantastic forehand down the line.

Collins uncharacteristically made four consecutive backhand errors and abandoned serve, while Sakkari, despite another double fault, sealed the break to level 3-3.

The Miami Open champion hit back-to-back forehand winners and kept his love for 4-3 while Sakkari was serving with new balls, made her third double fault and dropped serve when Collins hit a backhand down the line. Collins missed 3/4 first serves, but managed to secure the set 6-3 with a loving grip.

Sakkari served first in the second and, on her fourth double fault, faced two deuces, three break points and dropped serve. Collins made her first double fault but sealed the break with a backhand volley winner. 2-0.

Sakkari missed 3/6 first serve, including another double fault, but called thirty For 1-2 while Collins faced deuce and double break point but managed to hold on with an ace wide of the net.

Sakkari opened the fifth round with an incredible inside volley winner and closed it with a stunning down the line forehand. 2-3. Collins opened the sixth with her second double fault and faced five deuces and two break points, but fought back and held the lead. 4-2.

Sakkari opened with a brilliant backhand down the line and held the ball with ease. 15 For 3-4 while Collins hit two aces in a row and kept his love for 5-3. Sakkari, who managed to stay in the match, made three more unforced errors, the last of which was a double fault, conceding the game and the match.

Danielle Collins dominated midcourt to reach her second final in a row and fifth overall with supreme clarity. It was another exciting performance by the American on her farewell tour. She won the serve perfectly 77% first and 56% of second serve points and saved 4/5 conversion breakpoints 4/7.

Peace awaits in the end #eleven Daria Kasatkina. The twenty-six-year-old Russian is the leader in personal meetings. 2-1 including their lonely mud fight in Rome in 2018. Although they haven't competed in a match in nearly three years, this promises to be an exciting championship match with contrasting styles and personalities.