11 and counting… Collins keeps streak alive, faces Sakkari in Charleston semis
Credit One Charleston Open, Credit One Stadium
Can anyone beat Danielle Collins right now?
The 30-year-old American is playing red-hot tennis, and Friday (April 5) kept her streak going at the Credit One Charleston Open, beating Elise Mertens 6-3 6-4 for her 11th consecutive win and a first-ever berth in the semifinals here.
Collins won the title last week in Miami, where she won seven straight matches, and has tallied another four since arriving in Charleston, including two wins over former champions on Thursday, taking out both Ons Jabeur and Sloane Stephens.
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She’ll face another top player in world No.9 and third-seeded Maria Sakkari for a spot in the final after Sakkari scored a decisive win, 6-2 6-4 over, 2021 champion here, Veronika Kudermetova.
Collins’ win means she joins fellow American Jessica Pegula in the final four, marking the first time two players from the U.S. are into the semis here since Serena and Venus Williams in 2013.
Her 11 match wins in a row is the second longest streak in her career, having won 12 straight when she won back-to-back titles in Palermo and San Jose in 2021.
“I’m just thrilled to be keeping this streak alive,” Collins said after her win, adding that her mental approach has been less result-oriented.
“I feel like when I focus more on my process and what I have to do to get there, I am more focused; I’m more centered,” she revealed. “I don’t play with as much pressure.”
But Sakkari has looked close to her best recently, too, bringing on new coach David Witt at the beginning of March and winning 10 of her last 12 matches played.
“[I’m] super happy that I’m in the semifinals for the first time here,” she said after her win. “I want to stay as long as I can.”
🔱 MARIA 🇬🇷@mariasakkari defeats Kudermetova 6-2, 6-4 for a spot in the #CharlestonOpen semifinals!
She will face Danielle Collins next 👀 pic.twitter.com/r7aND0waz2
— Credit One Charleston Open (@CharlestonOpen) April 6, 2024
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