How To Watch Danielle Collins, Ex-U.Va. Star, At Australian Open

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—At an age when many tennis superstars already have at least one Grand Slam title on their résumés, 25-year-old Danielle Collins has taken a more methodical path as a professional. But now the two-time NCAA singles champ out of the University of Virginia finds herself in the semifinals of the Australian Open following Tuesday's 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

"I think not being a superstar at a young age certainly humbled me, made me work harder for things," she said after the win, which makes her the second collegiate player in 23 years to make the semifinals at a major, according to ESPN. "I was talented and athletic, but maybe not to the level that other players were at, like, 14, 15, 16. Not being a child prodigy, I went a different route.

"I wasn't really sure if I could make it playing professional tennis when I was that age. Going to college was really crucial for me and my development. I think it's made me hungrier."

She entered the Australian Open ranked 35th in the world but has played at a much higher level in Melbourne, as her fourth-round win over second-ranked Angelique Kerber attests. Next up for Collins, who won individual titles for the Cavaliers in 2014 and 2016, is eighth-ranked and two-time Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova on Wednesday. Kvitova has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Coverage of the Australian Open is airing on ESPN and the Tennis Channel.

Danielle Collins of the United States celebrates winning a point in her quarter final match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia during day nine of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)