Danielle Collins is impressing on her comeback from injury. at the US Open. The American missed some of the build up to the US Open after suffering a neck injury.
Danielle Collins impressing on comeback
Danielle Collins was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2019 after consulting doctors and demanding blood work as she knew something wasn’t right, she was suffering from aches, pains, puffy toes, etc. The American has since overhauled her lifestyle, training and diet. However, this year she had issues with her neck, which resulted in her pulling out of some tournaments ahead of the US Open.
After Wimbledon, Collins played the Ladies Open Lausanne where she was the top seed, but lost in the first round. The American had not played at all between then and the event in Flushing Meadows. Having recovered from the neck issue, Collins entered her home Grand Slam.
Expectations would have been low. After all not having played since July there would not have been many thinking that the American would do much at the US Open. So far though, Collins has been impressive. The American is the 19th seed and has been working her way steadily through the draw.
Impressing in New York
Drawn against Naomi Osaka in the first round, the American took a little to get going as the Japanese player forced a tiebreak in the first set. Collins edged through the breaker and then broke Osaka in the second to clinch the first round match in straight sets.
Collins then played Cristina Bucșa. The Spaniard was dominated in the first set by the American who was enjoying her tennis. Although the second set was a little closer the American seed still managed to break serve and take the match in straight sets 6-2, 7-5.
Next was Alize Cornet, who is always a dangerous player. Cornet’s ranking itself had dropped so she was not seeded. However, Collins battled hard and broke the French women serve in the first set. The second set was very close and went to a tiebreak. Collins pushed on and edged the breaker to again progress in straight sets.
Collins has made the second week of her home Grand Slam for the first time. Having made the final in Australia this year, the American is certainly on the up on hard courts. Collins has already bettered her previous finish at Flushing Meadows, as last year she made the third round.
Can Collins go further?
Collins will face sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka next. This will be a great test for the American as Sabalenka has been scything through the field so far. The only set that the sixth seed has dropped so far was in the second round. Against Estonian Kaia Kanepi, Sabalenka was outplayed for the first set before getting her game together and progressing through.
Although a tough match for Collins, the form she is in at the moment do not discount her being able to take out the sixth seed and progress even further. Collins is impressive at the moment with the way she is playing her game, no reason why she cannot beat Sabalenka when they meet next week.
Main Photo from Getty.
