2023-08-12 12:24:09
Chivontec were on course for an easy win when they led 5-1 in the first set.
But Collins, the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals since 2019, battled an early break in the second set and snatched it up in a decisive set.
The Polish woman dominated after that, breaking Collins’ serve again (5-2) and winning with a beautiful forehand ball.
“I wanted to play hard and I’m really happy to pick up the pace in the third set,” said Chivontec, who won her fourth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year.
Despite her previous match with Czech Karolina Mukhova lasting nine hours after stopping twice due to rain, Chiviontec said she was still fit. “Of course tomorrow will be difficult, because there is not enough time to recover, but physically I am well prepared.”
Pegula, the fourth seed, reached the semi-finals for the third year in a row by defeating her sixth seed, her compatriot and doubles colleague Coco Gough 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, and the latter paid the price of nine double errors on her serve.
“It’s always difficult to play against your partner in doubles,” Pegula said.
Russian Lyudmila Samsonova was forced to play two matches on Friday, defeating second-seeded Belarusian Arina Sabalenka 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-3 in the third round, postponed from Thursday, then beat Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-6. 4 in the quarterfinals.
Third-ranked Kazakh Elena Rybina needed three hours, 27 minutes and five points to decide the match, to beat Russian Daria Kastakina 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (10-8), so she left the court around three o’clock after midnight.
© 2023 AFP
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