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Danielle Collins' farewell season begins with gauntlet of Grand Slam champions

Arthur Kapetanakis | February 08, 2024

Four matches, four Grand Slam champions across the net—two either side of her bombshell announcement that the 2024 season will be her last as a professional tennis player. In what she revealed last month to be her farewell season, the 30-year-old Danielle Collins has proven that she still has the game to compete with the WTA's best.

At the Australian Open, Collins knocked off three-time major champ Angelique Kerber in the first round before a heartbreaking loss from 4-1 up in the third set against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Following the defeat, the American stunned reporters with news of her impending retirement.

 

"I don't really know exactly when [I'll finish], but this will be my last season and I'm really looking forward to that," she said after battling Swiatek for more than three hours in Rod Laver Arena. "I have other things that I'd kind of like to accomplish in my life outside of tennis, and would like to be able to have the time to be able to do that. Obviously having kids is a big priority for me."

 

After two weeks out of competition, Collins returned to action this week at the Abu Dhabi WTA 500, where her World No. 71 ranking landing her in qualifying. A pair of straight-sets wins saw her through to the main draw, where she again met a major champion in the opening round.

Danielle Collins in Abu Dhabi. Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images.

On Tuesday against Naomi Osaka, Collins scored a 7-5, 6-0 victory without dropping serve. After winning the first set on her fourth set point, the American's baseline prowess helped her run away with the second set with the hlep of three break-point saves in each of her first two service games.

 

"In the last two tournaments, here and the Australian Open, I had to play Grand Slam champions in the first round, second round," she said post-match, acknowledging her illustrious list of opponents. "I knew what to expect against Naomi. I know she’s been out for a little while, so still coming back. But I just had to lean into my tactics, rely on that and play my game."

Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images.

That win set up a second-round meeting with 2022 Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina. Collins claimed the opening set and twice led by a break in the second set, but her world No. 5 opponent took control of the match by winning four straight games from 2-3.

 

Though she is still seeking her first deep tournament run of 2024—after taking three months off at the close of last season—Collins has done herself proud against a gauntlet of Grand Slam champions.

 

The American was not far from becoming a major winner herself, with advances to the Australian Open final (2022) and semifinals (2019) in addition to a Roland Garros quarterfinal run in 2020. A two-time singles titlist on the WTA Tour with a career-high ranking of world No. 7, Collins still feel she has more left in the tank—even if the finish line of her career is now in sight.

“I still feel like I’m in good form even though this is my last year," she said after beating Osaka. "I feel like I needed an end date. I’ve really enjoyed my time on tour and had a lot of fun and gotten to have some amazing experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

 

"Right now, it’s not over yet. I’m still competing and battling and working at it, and still have some goals I want to accomplish."

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