Australian Open: College princess Danielle Collins pens history as first..

.

Collins is the first graduated College player who has reached the last four at Melbourne Park, never winning a Grand Slam match before Melbourne and entering the top-40 for the first time in a career after a huge result.

The Russian made a perfect start but that wasnt enough to push her over the finish line, losing a tight second set before the American took charge to dominate in the decider. Collins was more effective on both the first and second serve, dropping serve four times but creating 15 chances on the other side of the net and converting five to cross the finish line first.

Also, she hit 38 winners and 20 unforced errors, taming her shots nicely after the opener to keep the pressure on her rival who couldnt endure it. The Russian broke in the very first game of the match after a backhand error from Collins, cementing the lead after a massive hold in game two that lasted 18 minutes, saving five break points and closing the game with a service winner.

Danielle netted another backhand in the third game, pulling one break back but getting broken for the third time in a row to send the Russian 4-1 up. Pavlyuchenkova saved a break point with a backhand winner in game eight and the set was in her hands after another poor backhand from Collins who had to raise her level if she wanted to be competitive in set number two.

The American did that, opening the second set with two good holds and earning a break in game four with a forehand drive-volley winner, opening a 5-2 gap and serving for the set in game nine. Anastasia made one last push to break back thanks to a backhand winner and she was two games away from the place in the semis when he held for a 5-5.

Collins recovered her game, opening a 6-5 lead and firing a forehand winner in the next game to convert the third set point, clinching it 7-5 and becoming the favorite before the decider. There, Danielle sailed through her service games and Anastasia was far from that pace, dropping 20 of the first 23 points to push Collins 5-0 ahead.

Danielle broke at 15 in games two and four and she crossed the finish line with a service winner in game eight to book the place in the semi-final and continue a dream run in Melbourne. <table