fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, femcompetitior.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com lev-radin-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use
January 22, 2022,
Is the fourth round of a Grand Slam the epitome of attainment, based upon previous results, or is it a stepping stone to improving upon what you did before?
Only American Danielle Collins and Belgian Alise Mertens know for sure.
Publicly they appear to demonstrate personalities played close to the vest.
The two will play one another in the fourth round at this year’s 2022 Australian Open.
It is an intriguing matchup that has thus far flown under the radar due in part to the understandable attention focused on Naomi Osaka and how she would handle close matches or a possible loss at this year’s AO Open after recent bouts with emotional and mental issues.
After her loss to Amanda Anisimova in the third round, from our perspective, she handled her post loss press conference incredibly well. Naomi appears to have grown tremendously from her recent challenges.
So that’s done.
Naomi Osaka questions asked and answered.
If Danielle or Alise continue to play well, the focus will shift to them.
We have been here before with both of them.
In 2019, Danielle appeared to come out of nowhere and charged into the semi-finals. Femcompetitor Magazine described her as a Runaway Train.
On January 22, 2019 they praised, “Unexpected debris in the form of top seeded players is being strewn hither and thither along the pathway to the finals of the 2019 Australian Open championships by an unseeded player who is battling with the full force of a runaway train.
Like a fierce locomotive traveling forward with uncontrollable speed, few saw it coming and thus far no one in her way seems to know what to do about it.
Who would have predicted that America’s 35th WTA ranked player and unseeded entrant into the 2019 Australian open would blast her way into the semi-finals steam rolling higher seeds in her path.
No one predicted this ahead of time.
Danielle Collins soundly defeated Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarters to reach her first major semi-final.”
Yes indeed, it was such a powerful run by Danielle, we still remember what we all felt.
So to answer our first question, we’re certain, based upon past results, Danielle is not remotely content to make it to the fourth round.
She’s already bettered that, here.
Alise Merten’s has been past the fourth round Down Under also.
In 2018, she challenged into the semi-finals as well.
Femcompetitor Magazine chronicled her grit and determination and in 2020, her dismantling of American Caty McNally.
They summarized, “As she is reaching the top, there will be a giant named Elise waiting for her.
Caty is determined and appears to be ready for the dynamics of the moment.
From what we have seen, her recent work has been a little spotty and she certainly doesn’t look like the same player that pushed Serena Williams to the limits on August 28, 2019, at the US Open where she at times rushed the net and won the first set 7-5.
That being said, Caty still appears ready for prime time.
She raced off to a 3-0 first set lead.
Wobbly but unfazed, Elise has been down this road before and steadied herself to get back on serve.
Can Caty break her and close out the first set?
Tennis Magazine capsulizes it well. “Mertens served at 4-5. At 30-30, another constricted forehand lined its way into the net and gave McNally a set point.
On that first set point, Mertens struck a service winner down the T. At deuce, another netted Mertens forehand. Set point number two for McNally saw her net a backhand return.”
Caty let a major first set opportunity slip away.
We could feel the winds drain from Caty’s sails.
At 5-5, Caty over hits way too many shots and the crafty veteran Elise breaks her to serve at 6-5.
Elise is determined not to let this opening close and swiftly closes out Caty and takes the first set 7-5.
Elise is playing like a giant.”
Against Danielle, Elise will have to play like a giant again. Danielle will need the ferociousness of a runaway train.
Due to her internal makeup, we see Danielle winning this one and advancing. We feel the American has more power and determination. There is a certain energy building once again in her game.
The leaders with the inside scoop at wtatennis.com reported, “2019 Australian Open semifinalist Collins, the No.27 seed, outlasted the last remaining teenager in the draw, 19-year-old Clara Tauson of Denmark, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a 2-hour and 35-minute barnburner on Rod Laver Arena.
Collins came back from a set and 4-2 down to claim a spot in the fourth round of a Grand Slam event for the third time in her career.”
We saw most of that match and near the end it was almost like Danielle was bullying her way through it with very little resistance from a passive Clara.
And the global sports and news source yahoo.com adds, “American Danielle Collins staged a remarkable comeback to halt giant-killing Danish teenager Clara Tauson Saturday and keep alive dreams of bettering her last-four Australian Open heroics in 2019.”
So Danielle has faced down a giant slayer and lived to tell about it.
Can she slay one herself?
Danielle has been here before. Nerves will most likely not be a factor in her showdown with Elise. She appears to be extremely confident.
A closer look at Elise.
Elise is a Belgian professional tennis player who achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 on November 26, 2018.
2018 was an incredible year.
Alise has won six singles and 14 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including three Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles: the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open partnering Aryna Sabalenka, and at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships partnering Hsieh Su-wei. She also has 11 singles and 13 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.
Why is her doubles game relevant?
Net play.
In our opinion, if she stays at the baseline and tries to battle it out with Danielle, that will not be in her best interest.
If she plays comfortably at the net, shorten the points and gives Danielle less time to set up, her chances of winning greatly increase.
While her most prolific success has come in doubles, including winning the Indian Wells and Miami doubles titles in 2019 to complete the Sunshine Double, Alise has also been very successful in singles.
Besides reaching the semifinals at the 2018 Australian Open, Elise has also fought her way into quarterfinals at the 2019 and 2020 US Open.
Alise is primarily a baseline player, whose game blends her excellent defensive skills with aggressive shot making capabilities.
Her groundstrokes are hit very flat, with little topspin applied, allowing her shots to penetrate consistently deep into the court, despite Mertens’ comparatively slight build.
That slight build and defensive play are warning sirens going into the fourth round.
A runaway train verses a giant waiting for you at the top of the beanstalk.
Sounds like a collision of grand fourth round proportions.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO femcompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, grapplingstars.com article, lev-radin-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Collins
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/collins-downs-danish-teen-tauson-033900998.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elise_Mertens
