Danielle Collins returns to Australian Open semifinals after ending Alizé Cornet's best major run

INSTANT REACTION: Collins on Wednesday's performance

If you fully believe the notion that history is written by the winners, then you’ll only want to hear from Danielle Collins. Up against Alizé Cornet in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Collins steamrolled her way to a 7-5, 6-1 victory.

Save for a lapse when serving for the first set at 5-3, Collins was in complete control, her powerful drives and aggressive court positioning smothering Cornet. Striking 28 winners to just 11 for Cornet, Collins repeatedly laced balls into corners, most frequently with laser-sharp backhands. “I had a great match today,” said Collins. “Have had some great matches along the way at this tournament. Really happy about how I'm feeling physically and mentally. Yeah, hopefully we can keep it going.”

Cornet, often adroit at unraveling strands of weakness in her opponents, had little to offer other than hustle, a few disruptive underspin forehands, and the increasingly fading hope that Collins—always red-hot with her intensity—would eventually cool down in the ball-striking department.  “All the time you feel really oppressed,” said Cornet. “I felt out of breath all the time. I couldn't, like, place my game. She just never let me do it, never gave me the time to do it. Yeah, she's impressive.”

Collins has now reached the semis at the Australian Open for the second time, her prior trip to the final four coming three years ago. Since then, Collins has navigated her way through significant health challenges and grown in surprising ways. Today she cited the first rock-climbing trip of her life, taken alongside fellow pro Bethanie Mattek-Sands, as a profound example of how she faced a fear and learned a lesson. Said Collins, “I think halfway through it, had to be at least a four-hour experience, halfway through it I realized every time I step out on the court, it's not life or death. For people in rock climbing, it can be.”

But while Collins won this tennis match, why believe that history is only written by the winners? Ask Cornet. Over the course of this year’s Australian Open, the 32-year-old Frenchwoman has authored one of the tournament’s most captivating stories. This was her 63rd major—and first trip to a quarterfinal. It’s hard to imagine a better tale of engagement and persistence. A pinnacle moment came two days ago, when Cornet upset two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep in the round of 16. Following that win, Cornet replied to hundreds of congratulatory text messages, an activity she conceded might have left her slightly depleted for the match versus Collins. “Maybe next time I’ll handle it differently,” said Cornet.

As Cornet reflected on her inaugural last eight run, she said, “it showed me when I reflect on this that I'm maybe tougher than what I thought, that I can beat many good players in a row even in a slam. I should just keep believing, keep working. Maybe an exciting season is ahead of me. That's what I'm telling myself now.”

Perhaps more than those who raise the trophies, Cornet’s 63-Slam journey and her optimism even after a harsh defeat reveals that every tennis player has a triumphant story of their own, a saga of singular pursuit that can be powerful and lonely, but also meaningful. Last year, Cornet published an autobiography, a book that is less a conventional narrative than a series of vignettes and epigrams. “Despite the hard knocks, the moments of doubt, the bitter defeats and the evenings in hotel rooms away from my family,” wrote Cornet, “it was so worth it.” Winners? Losers? Better yet, ponder the title of Cornet’s book: Transcendence.