Danielle Collins overcomes Simona Halep at Italian Open as epic 82-minute first set proves key
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Published 11/05/2022 at 22:07 GMT
Seventh seed Danielle Collins progressed to the last-16 of the Italian Open after coming through a punishing encounter with Simona Halep. The pair traded blow after blow in an extraordinary first set that lasted 82 minutes, and after Collins took the tie-break having won 11 of the set's final 12 points, she was able to pull away from the Romanian in the second.
Simona Halep of Romania reacts in her women's singles second round match against Danielle Collins of The United States during day four of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia at Foro Italico on May 11, 2022 in Rome, Italy.
Image credit: Eurosport
Danielle Collins advanced to the last 16 of the Italian Open after coming through a bruising meeting with Simona Halep.
The Pietrangeli Court crowd in Rome were given an evening treat as a dramatic first set lasting 82 minutes - and which contained a remarkable six breaks of serve - saw the balance of the match swing one way then the other.
In the end Collins took it with a clutch stretch - winning 11 of the set's final 12 points - and the momentum of the match was always in her favour thereafter.
For Halep, the 2020 champion at the event, it will have been a dispiriting way to end her time in the Italian capital as she continues her journey back to full fitness having spent over a month off the WTA Tour due to a leg injury sustained at Indian Wells in March.
In a way it was surprising the first set took so long to conclude, with Collins blasting a huge 36 winners to Halep's 12. However Halep hung in and took it to a tie-break.
The 30-year-old would, therefore, have been frustrated to put up a comparatively meek showing in that shootout, losing it 7-1 as Collins stepped up a gear.
The second set was always going to be a tough task psychologically for Halep, and she slipped to a 4-0 deficit in quick time. The Romanian - now under the tutelage of Serena Williams' ex-coach Patrick Mouratoglou - did mount a fightback to return to 5-3, but Collins was able to see it out.
Collins will face fellow American Amanda Anisimova in the last 16 and it could even be another all-American quarter-final beyond that, with the winner set to face Jessica Pegula or Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka.
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