Alizé Cornet conquers Simona Halep in three sets to reach Australian Open quarterfinals

France's Alizé Cornet has reached the quarterfinal stage at a major for the first time in her career after battling stifling hot conditions to beat former Australian Open finalist Simona Halep in three sets.

With the temperature well above 30 degrees Celsius, both players struggled in the heat on Rod Laver Arena, but it was Cornet who came out on top, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 33 minutes.

Cornet will play Danielle Collins for a place in the semifinals.

Collins won a battle of attrition to overhaul 19th seed Elise Mertens 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and book her second quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open.

In a gruelling clash of former semi-finalists lasting 2 hours and 51 minutes, the American 27th seed snatched the win with a barrage of power hitting as Mertens served to stay in the match.

Belgian Mertens saved two match points — the second with a gutsy second serve — but then surrendered meekly on the third with a double fault.

Collins is the third American woman to reach the quarterfinals this year, with Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys also advancing to the last eight.

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«I think I have my ups and downs during the matches, mentally and physically,» Collins said in her on-court interview.

«Elise was really working me to the max. She's one of the best anticipators on tour. So sometimes I was having to win the points five, six, seven times.

»Some of the points were incredible. Some of the balls she was getting back and shots I thought were winners, sometimes they weren't.

«So I had to try to put some pressure on her and come up with some big shots because that's all you can do against someone who is such a good anticipator.»