Danielle Collins survives Ons Jabeur, extends winning streak in Charleston

Danielle Collins saw her streak of 17 straight sets end but the Miami Open champion nonetheless won a ninth consecutive victory on Thursday, dethroning defending champion Ons Jabeur, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to win the first of two matches on the schedule at the Credit One Charleston Open.

The No. 2 seed Jabeur put together a strong challenge to be the first to take a set from Collins in nearly 30 days, but Collins rebounded in style to hand Jabeur a fifth straight loss and edge into the third round in just over two hours on Credit One Stadium.

Collins went on to win two matches in one day, defeating 2016 champion Sloane Stephens, 6-2, 6-2, to extend her win streak to 10 in a row.

There has been little rest for the 30-year-old in what is set to be her final season on tour: barely three days after winning the biggest title of her career at the Hard Rock Stadium, Collins was on court in Charleston playing her first clay-court tournament since Roland Garros last spring. Easing through an opening-round challenge against Paula Badosa, the American booked a marquee clash with Jabeur, whom she had beat in two out of three previous meetings.

After their second-round encounter was postponed due to a Wednesday rain storm, the duo opened action on Charleston’s center court and put on a quality performance. Collins navigated an early exchange of breaks to ultimately serve out the set after a late surge from Jabeur, who rode that momentum through a dominant second set.

Breaking Collins twice in the second, Jabeur snapped Collins’ streak of 17 straight sets and appeared to have all the momentum heading into the third. But doubts crept in as the talented Tunisian, who has lost her last four matches heading into Charleston, gave up the first break of the final set, smashing her racquet in frustration.

Collins took full advantage of the lapse from Jabeur, serving her way to 4-1 as she pumped herself up in her inimitable style. Indeed, her biggest issue in the decider appeared to be a snagged bracelet on her left wrist, which a ball kid assisted in adjusting during the changeover.

Jabeur, by contrast, was up against it as Collins earned two chances for a double-break lead, but still managed one last comeback, digging out of two break points and clawing the set back on serve in the seventh game.

Collins was undaunted, breaking straight back to put herself a game from victory and earning two match points thanks to some ferocious hitting off the ground. Jabeur saved one with a forehand putaway but Collins made no mistake on the second, blasting a backhand into the open court to edge over the finish line.