The match between Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina was expected to be the highlight of Monday's play in Adelaide and it delivered indeed. Both players delivered high quality tennis, starting from the first set, when both players were serving really well. Danielle's performance was almost flawless, as she was barely missing 1st set, mixing up the serve directions really well and not allowing her opponent to make any threat during her serving games. Besides that, the American was closer to the breaking opportunities, more convincing in rare rallies as well. Collins finally capitalized her great performance in 11th game, breaking Rybakina, and clutching the first set a few minutes later.
Danielle's performance dropped down after start of the 2nd set, when Rybakina gained the momentum, breaking Collins early and didn't leave last year's Australian Open finalist without a trouble in any of her service games. She managed to win 2nd set quite easily 6-2, while Collins won only one point on return. The decider looked quite similar, as Rybakina was hitting hard and not leaving too much space for the American. She managed to break Collins again, but Danielle did not give up till the end. Despite being 1-5 down, she reduced the gap to just one break, keeping the pressure Rybakina, showing her trademark backhand winners from time to time. The match ended with 6-3 win of Elena Rybakina in the decider. Reigning Wimbledon champion played superb match being almost untouchable from the start of 2nd set. Despite really bad luck in the draw, Danielle Collins showed some great performance as well, and her good moments from this match are definitely some fundamental to build on. Danielle will be surely a threat for anyone during other Australian Summer tournaments, and for the remainder of the season. Next up for Rybakina is Marta Kostyuk. Ukrainian defeated local player Jaimee Fourlis in another thight 3-setter and will face in-form Rybakina in Round of 16.
Before that, the day in Adelaide brought some other interesting matchups in WTA 500 tournaments. The battle between Amanda Anisimova and Veronika Kudermetova was electrifying on paper, but it was no-show from the young American player this time, as she won just 3 games in first set and got bageled in the latter. On the other hand, another top 10 player from Russia - Daria Kasatkina - got eliminated from the tournament by 18 y/o Linda Noskova from Czech Republic. Noskova managed to deliver a big upset, defeating the participant of latest WTA Finals in three sets. Kasatkina was not in her top shape though, as she called the medical time-out twice. Nevertheless, great stuff from the young Czech player, who is clearly knocking to the range of top players, very quickly.
Talking about upsets - it happened today even twice in the ATP 250 tournament. Holger Rune, who ended up last season with enormous run of form, opened his match against Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka with confident win in first set. It was not enough though, while Nishioka raised to his peaks and outplayed Rune in second and third set as well. It was also not a day for Felix Auger Alliasime. Canadian player seeded with #2 ended up shortly against local player Alexei Popyrin, losing in a tiebreak twice. It was good day for the Aussies, as current tittle holder Thanasi Kokkinakis managed to cross the line against Maxime Cressy in straight sets during the last centre court match of the day.
