Simona Halep missed Wimbledon and the French Open during an injury-plagued 2021 but looked in peak form at the start of the season as she notched nine wins in a row, including a title in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
Alizee Cornet survived a tough heat to beat former world number one Simona Halep 6-4 3-6 6-4 at the Australian Open on Monday, progressing to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she faced Daniel Collins. Will fight
Collins previously became the third American woman after Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula to beat Alice Mertens 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Frenchwoman Cornet, making her 63rd main draw appearance at a Grand Slam, improved her record to 4-1 against 2018 finalist Halep, when 32-year-old Rod Laver came through a fight that lasted two hours and 33 minutes at the Arena .
Cornet, who had heavy tape on both thighs, buried his face in a towel and shed tears after converting his third match point.
"There was a fight with Simona today this summer. After 30 minutes of play we were both dying on the court. We went on for two and a half hours with all our heart," Cornet said in the courtroom to warm applause.
"Congratulations Simona because I know she fought a lot and I admire this player a lot. She's such a fighter and an example to me. Beating her today to get to my first quarterfinal is a dream come true." Is.
"I don't know what to say. It's just magic. It's never too late to try again."
Halep missed Wimbledon and the French Open in 2021 with an injury, but looked in peak form at the start of the season as she posted nine consecutive wins, including a title in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
The Romanian had won only 12 games in the fourth round, but the 30-year-old looked exhausted as the match progressed, leaning on his racket between points to catch his breath.
Conditions were no less brutal earlier on Monday as Collins needed all his resilience to come through the former semifinalist's grueling struggle, with the 27th-seeded American winning with power hitting as Mertens tried to stay in the match. worked for.
Belgian Mertens saved two match points, the second with a second serve, but then meekly surrendered on the third with a double-fault.
"I think I have had my ups and downs during the match, both mentally and physically," Collins said.
"Alice was really working me to the max. Some of the points were unbelievable, how many balls she was returning. So I had to put some pressure on her."