Tennis: Collins stuns top-ranked Barty in Adelaide but Bencic coasts into q-finals

Danielle Collins (left) seized on some poor serving from Ashleigh Barty to claim a convincing win in just 65 minutes. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE

ADELAIDE (AFP) - Unseeded American Danielle Collins sent an out-of-sorts Ashleigh Barty crashing out of the Adelaide International in the second round on Wednesday (Feb 24).

The 27-year-old seized on some poor serving from the world No. 1 to claim a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win in just 65 minutes.

It was the world No. 37's first win over Barty in three encounters and also her first against a current world No. 1.

Barty, 24, started strongly, breaking Collins' first service game and opening up a 3-1 lead, but the Australian's first serve deserted her and Collins got back on terms, then broke Barty twice to claim the first set.

Barty broke again at the start of the second, but once again Collins came back, then broke at 4-4 before holding her own serve to reach the quarter-finals, where she will play Poland's reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek.

"I feel really comfortable playing here," Collins said.

"I didn't have the crowd on my side today but I still loved playing in front of so many fans. It just makes it such a fun atmosphere."

Swiatek was untroubled against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, winning 6-1, 6-3.

Second seed Belinda Bencic cruised into the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Japan's Misaki Doi.

The Swiss world No. 12 dominated throughout to reach her first quarter-final since Doha in February 2020.

"I felt really good on the court," she said.

"It's only my second time in Adelaide but I love this tournament, I feel very comfortable here and it was nice to play in front of the crowd.

"I'm just really happy to be in another quarter-final, and hopefully I can win this time."

Bencic takes on Australian surprise packet Storm Sanders in the last eight.

The left-handed Sanders entered the tournament as the world No. 292 but outlasted seventh seed Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.

American teenager Coco Gauff caused an upset when she came from a set down to beat sixth seed Petra Martic of Croatia 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

In another upset, Swiss player Jil Teichmann beat China's eighth-seeded Wang Qiang 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, who downed lucky loser Christina McHale 6-4, 6-1.

The American was a late entry when Belgian fourth seed Elise Mertens withdrew with a shoulder injury.

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