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The Australian Open 2019 remains a significant tournament for the two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova's career. This is the first time she is in the semi-finals of a Major since recovering from a career-threatening knife attack on her playing left hand that occurred in December 2016.
The Czech has looked a different player ever since she came back. Mentally stronger and with a new lease of life, she blitzed through the WTA Tour last year, winning five titles. However, she somehow fell short in the Slams no matter how determined she looked elsewhere.
It is at this year's first Slam that the southpaw has begun to look like a force once more. She has been able to carry on her Sydney title-winning form and tear through the draw. The World No. 8 won all five matches in straight sets and looks hungry and motivated as ever.
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This is the devastating Kvitova we know -- the one who won the two Wimbledon titles in 2011 and 2014. So far she has simply refused to do anything wrong. And the Czech also has the prized World No. 1 ranking beckoning her, something she missed by a whisker right here at the Melbourne Park in 2012. She surely wouldn't like to squander a second chance.
Her opponent, the 35th ranked Danielle Collins has been scripting her own fairy tale ever since the Slam began. The 25-year-old, who never made it past the first round of any Major earlier, has accounted for the second seed Angelique Kerber, the 14th seed Julia Georges and the 19th seed Caroline Garcia.
For sure, this is an absolutely unchartered territory for Collins. But she has nothing to lose. She would once again try to ride on her aggressive forehands to rattle her opponent. However, this is where Kvitova's 2019 Brisbane showdown with Collins will come in handy. The American did snatch the first set before the Czech steered the ship right to clinch a three-set win.
With so much on the line, Kvitova will try to make sure that she doesn't give Collins too much comfort to settle into the match and blast her groundstrokes.
Here is all you need to know about the match:
Match: (8) Petra Kvitova vs Danielle Collins
Date: 24. 01. 2019.
Round: Semifinals
Time: Not before 2 pm AEDT or 8:30 am IST; it is the second match on the Rod Laver Arena in the day session.
Where to Watch Details:
India: Matches will be shown live on TV on Sony SIX, Sony SIX HD, Sony Ten 2, and Sony Ten 2 HD. Matches can also be streamed live on SonyLiv.
USA: ESPN2 and Tennis Channel.
Australia: Channel 9 - Wide World of Sports, 9Gem, and 9Now.
Europe: Eurosport TV channel and on the Eurosport Player live streaming service
All matches can also be streamed live on the official Australian Open website.
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