Kvitova beats Danielle Collins to reach Australia Open final

Petra Kvitova reached her first Grand Slam final since being stabbed, beating unseeded American Danielle Collins under the roof after extreme heat at the Australian Open.

Czech Kvitova, seeded eighth, dominated a tie-break to win a tight first set, in which the roof was closed at 4-4.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, 28, controlled the second as Collins, 25, grew frustrated.

Kvitova won 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 and will meet Naomi Osaka in Saturday’s final.

US Open champion Osaka defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-2 4-6 6-4 in the second-semi-final.

A vicious forehand winner sealed victory on Kvitova’s first match point as she reached her first Australian Open final.

“This means everything, that’s why I work really hard – to be in a final at a Grand Slam,” she said.

“Finally, I made it deep into a major. Whatever happens in the final I am very happy.”

The winner of the final will replace Romania’s Simona Halep as the world number one, BBC reports.