Danielle Collins stunned seventh seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 at the Australian Open to power into her first major final.
She will face local favourite Ash Barty on Saturday.
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Collins, ranked 30 in the world, made a lighting start on Rod Laver Arena and raced into a 4-0 lead. Though the Polish player rallied well, the 28-year-old Collins held firm to close out the set.
Collins, whose only previous major semifinal appearance was also at the Australian Open in 2019, has won her last 11 completed matches.
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This result is Collins’ seventh career Top 10 win, and second on the Grand Slam stage following her fourth-round upset of Angelique Kerber at the 2019 Australian Open.
The American is now guaranteed to make a top-10 debut next week.
Home favourite Barty into final
Ashleigh Barty is through to the Australian Open final after a 6-1 6-3 victory over Madison Keys at Melbourne Park.
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The world No 1 will aim to win her home Grand Slam title for the first time.
One for the history books 📚🇦🇺✨@ashbarty • #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/WYYUYnZwh9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2022
The last Australian to make the final here was Wendy Turnbull, who was runner-up to Hana Mandlikova in 1980.
Barty is bidding to become the first women’s home champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978.
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She has spent just six hours and six minutes on court, and dropped just 21 games so far in six matches.
That is the lowest number that any player has lost en route to a Grand Slam title match since Serena Williams conceded 16 on the way to the 2013 US Open final.
