- Two elephants die in flash flooding in northern Thailand
- Sabalenka targets world number one and Wuhan hat-trick
- Toddler among 4 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Bagnaia sets 'example' with Japan MotoGP win to cut gap on Martin
- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
- Mozambique vote: no suspense but some disillusion
- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Thousands march for Palestinians ahead of Oct 7 anniversary
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
Fitter, stronger and pain-free, Collins makes Australian Open semis
A resurgent Danielle Collins said feeling herself again after difficult surgery, coupled with improved strength and stamina, helped power her into the last four of the Australian Open Wednesday.
The American 27th seed came through an intense clash 7-5, 6-1 in sweltering temperatures on Rod Laver Arena to shatter French veteran Alize Cornet's dream of making a first Grand Slam semi-final.
She will face Poland's Iga Swiatek for a place in the final after the seventh seed ousted Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi in three tough sets.
Collins underwent surgery last year for endometriosis -- where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow elsewhere -- and said being pain-free had made a huge difference.
"I think I certainly feel a lot freer just not having to deal with the symptoms that I used to deal with, that not being a continuous issue that I'm dealing with on a daily basis," she said.
"I think aside from surgery, I've gotten a lot physically stronger over the last couple of years. My strength and conditioning, my fitness, it's been one of the most important areas of my training and focuses.
"That has transferred over to my tennis, the way that I'm able to play physically with my serving. My stamina on court has improved tremendously. I think just overall power and speed has improved."
Defeat was bittersweet for the unseeded Cornet, who was in her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final after 17 years of trying, but was unable to take it a step further.
"I have this little regret, but I gave everything I had on the court today which was less than the previous day, but that's what I had," said the Frenchwoman.
Collins, a terrific college player who didn't turn professional until the age of 22, has been in fine form since recovering from her surgery last April and then tearing her abdomen at Roland Garros.
She returned to win her maiden WTA titles at San Jose and Palermo and has now matched her 2019 run at Melbourne Park, the only other time she has made a Slam semi-final.
With temperatures hitting 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit), both players held their opening serve as they sized each other up at their first meeting, with both renowned for their on-court intensity.
They probed for openings and the first break-point came on Cornet's serve after Collins played a beautiful passing shot.
The Frenchwoman saved it and two more as the American pressed hard, and she got her reward with a backhand volley to move 3-1 in front.
Cornet clung on but Collins was giving her few opportunities, until game 10 when nerves struck as she served for the set.
She netted a backhand to allow Cornet to break back for 4-5, but the American kept her cool to earn three set points at 6-5, converting when Cornet whipped a looping forehand long.
Collins kept up the pressure in set two and after holding serve broke to go 2-0 clear with a blistering forehand, and Cornet's head went down.
Broken again to slump 4-0 behind, there was no way back.
"To be able to get back to this level and be able to compete the way I have and be as physical as I have has been so rewarding," said Collins.
"Especially playing against the girls I've been playing against the last couple of matches, really good competitors, really great athletes."
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN