Serena Williams sent out a warning to the rest of the depleted women’s draw on
Friday with a dominant straight-sets win over Danielle Collins to reach the French Open
final 16 for the first time since 2018.
The 39-year-old, still one short of Margaret Court’s all-time document of 24 Grand Slam
singles titles, noticed off fellow American Collins 6-4, 6-4.
“Today it was very tough, but I performed nicely, stayed concentrated. I am very pleased,” mentioned
the three-time Roland Garros winner.
Williams is now the very best seed left in her half of the draw, with the entire world’s high
4 absent from the second week. She is going to subsequently face Kazakh twenty-first seed Elena Rybakina, with a possible quarter-final towards previous rival Victoria Azarenka up for grabs. Williams, seeded eighth, had a slight scare within the second set when she fell 1-4 behind towards 2020 quarter-finalist Collins, however, won the next 5 games to safe victory. When Williams last made the fourth spherical three years in the past, she withdrew injured earlier than a scheduled conflict with Maria Sharapova.
The former world primary additionally pulled out the final year following the opening spherical, however
she looks in sturdy kind this time around, despite sporting some strapping on her proper
thigh.
Williams thundered down 5 aces and hit 22 winners towards Collins, winning in simply 85
minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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