Collins Captures Emotional Victory at Miami Open
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – In a thrilling final match at the Miami Open, Danielle Collins captured the title in her home state, beating Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3. The 30-year-old Collins, who announced her retirement earlier this year due to endometriosis, was emotional as she lifted the trophy in front of a supportive crowd that included tennis legends Andre Agassi and Martina Navratilova.
Ranked No. 53 and unseeded, Collins played with passion and determination throughout the two-hour match, pumping her fist and engaging with the crowd. She saved 10 of the 11 break points she faced, while her opponent Rybakina struggled to keep up physically after playing four prior three-set matches in the tournament.
Collins, a two-time NCAA singles champion, had never had Agassi attend one of her matches before. “Andre was my [service] return idol,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much footage I’ve watched of Andre. When I saw him out here, I almost teared up. It was surreal.”
With this victory, Collins becomes the lowest-ranked women’s champion at Miami and will move up to 22nd in the rankings. She leaves with $1.1 million in prize money and a newfound motivation to win more titles before her retirement.
“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.”
Collins’ win was met with an outpouring of support from her fans, who have been with her throughout her tennis career. “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.”
Collins’ Retirement Motivates Her to Win Big
Collins’ impending retirement has given her a new drive to succeed on the court. “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.”
With this victory, Collins adds a Masters 1000-level title to her resume, the biggest of her career. She credits her focus and determination to her impending retirement, saying, “I think about my legacy and what I want to leave behind. I want to win more titles and make the most of my time on the court.”
Collins’ emotional victory at the Miami Open is a testament to her resilience and determination. As she celebrates with her family and friends, she looks forward to enjoying Miami and taking a break from the tennis world. But with her retirement on the horizon, she will continue to push herself to achieve even greater success on the court.
