WTA MIAMI OPEN. by Emiliano Naftali
On Saturday, Danielle clinched victory at the Miami Open, defeating Elena Rybakina with a score of 7-5, 6-3. The triumph came as a special moment for Danielle, as she triumphed in her home state, cheered on by a supportive crowd that boasted notable figures like Andre Agassi and Martina Navratilova. Despite her remarkable win, the 30-year-old Collins had earlier disclosed at the Australian Open that this season would mark her final appearance due to her ongoing battle with endometriosis, a condition causing significant discomfort and impacting the uterus.
On her fourth match point, Collins hit a backhand crosscourt winner, then bent over for 10 seconds without moving.
“That game took a lot out of me and Elena was pushing me all around the court,” Collins said. “At the end I was just like, ‘Thank God.’ It all caught up to me.”
Ranked No. 53 and unseeded, Collins was animated throughout the two-hour match against the fourth-ranked Rybakina, pumping her fist and staring up at the crowd that featured a big American flag in the third row. It was too much for the ragged Rybakina, who hit several backhands long.
Collins was teary-eyed during the on-court trophy ceremony.
“To the fans, I’ve played a lot of tennis, a few finals, and nothing close to this,” Collins said. “In my home state, to come out here in front of thousands of my best friends pushing me to get over this hurdle, I was getting very emotional. It was an incredible environment. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
On her fourth match point, Collins hit a backhand crosscourt winner, then bent over for 10 seconds without moving.
It was the third career title and first since San Jose in 2021 for Collins, who became the lowest-ranked women’s champion at Miami. She leaves with $1.1 million in prize money and will move up to 22nd in the rankings.
Collins said her impending retirement has motivated her to win more titles. This was the biggest of her career and her first in a Masters 1000-level event.
“I feel this tournament is the most centered I’ve been,” she said. “It sounds a little yoga, hippy-dippy but I think about that stuff a lot.”
Photo Gabriel Matteazzi