At the beginning of the season, former Australian Open runner-up Daniel Collins casually revealed that this would be his last year as a professional tennis player. Unlike many others who struggle to move on, Collins discussed his decision without anguish. Accepting the end of her career rather freed her up to swing for the fences and finish it with no regrets.
Collins, who is already off to a strong start to the year, has played top quality tennis over the past two weeks, methodically attacking the world’s best players off the court. On Saturday, Collins capped off the best two weeks of her career by defeating fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in the Miami Open, the biggest title of her career.
Collins, who won her first WTA 1000 title, is the lowest-ranked Miami Open champion at 53rd place. Collins, 30, is also the second-oldest first-time Miami Open champion after last year’s winner Petra Kvitova. She started the year at No. 71 in the rankings, but her former No. 7, Collins, returns to the top 30 at No. 22.
Despite the huge gap in the standings and his experience in the biggest tournaments, Collins clearly had a great chance of making it to the final based on his form and the quality of tennis he displayed. While Rybakina fought through four grueling three-set matches in five matches and continued to search for her best form, Collins was completely devastated. After dropping the first set of the tournament against Bernarda Pera, she broke through a draw without allowing more than five games in any other match until the final.
There was little to separate the two early in the final, with Rybakina usually dominating with huge first serves. However, Collins’ explosive and relentless ball-striking, especially off her incredible two-handed backhand, allowed her to control neutral rallies and frequently overpower Kazakh sensation Rybakina. It’s done.
After both players held their serve games at 5-5, Collins hit a powerful backhand down-the-line winner at break point. She then began to hit the ball with increasing freedom, and after holding her serve, she produced a dominant return game to break serve and take the set.
Throughout the second set, Collins’ willingness to control the baseline and dictate the match was rewarded, even as Rybakina continued to threaten to upset the match. After an excruciating final match with four match points, Collins finally achieved the biggest victory of his career.
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Despite having a tough 2023, Collins’ reasons for retiring had little to do with her level on the court, and she was adamant that the results would not influence her decision. In recent years, she has had a number of health problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, and endometriosis, an extremely painful disease in which tissue similar to the endometrium grows outside the uterus. There is. It is the American’s mental strength and talent that has allowed her to continue competing at her highest level.
Collins, who enjoyed incredible success as a professional tennis player and in college before that, has always been an exceptional presence on tour. She is very confident and does things her own way. Her shot-making is perfect destruction in full flow, especially her best two-handed backhand, and the intensity of her play is characterized by her constant fighting and infamous “Come on!” . – It’s unforgettable. Now in her final season, she is achieving great results befitting her abilities.
