Unstoppable Collins powering her way to the perfect farewell finish
Collins is the first player since Serena Williams back in 2013 to achieve back-to-back titles at Miami and the Charleston Open
Danielle Collins Charleston semi 2024 Zuma/Panoramic
Danielle Collins is putting together something quite remarkable.
If the first three months of this season have taught us anything, it is that the manifestation of a player’s fairytale farewell is an extremely rare thing indeed.
In most cases, time and the rigours of a career on tour take their toll and will indiscriminately determine the final path of a player’s career.
But Collins – with typical fire and feistiness in abundance – has refused to go gently into that good night. Instead, she is scything her way to all the titles and accolades her injury-ravaged career should and, most probably, would have delivered.
The Florida native capped the perfect farewell to her home state by superbly surging to her first 1000-level title at the Miami Open, before backing that up with another brilliant title charge in Charleston just a week later.
In February, she sat at No 71 in the world. Less than two months later, she has jumped to 15th in the WTA rankings.
Rather than results gradually diminishing, and a career slowing down towards its inevitable conclusion, Collins is doing things back-to-front.
Since announcing that this would be her last year on tour, the American has ramped up her intensity and aggression, finding the best form of her career just in time to go out in a true blaze of glory.
Testament to Collins’ sometimes unorthodox charisma is the manner in which she announced her departure. It came in the form of an off-the-cuff comment to press following a painful loss to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open – something which many at the time felt was simply a knee-jerk reaction to a difficult defeat.
Indeed, Collins has since continued to be probed by questions surrounding her future, but has remained steadfast in her assertion that 2024 really is her final year as a professional tennis player.
collins praises impact of “idol” serena
When she does hang up her racquet for the final time, it will be a huge loss for the sport. Few players possess quite the natural magnetism that a pumped-up Collins in full flight does.
The primal roars of celebration contain echoes of a certain Serena Williams. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Collins cites Williams as her idol.
“Growing up, Serena was my idol,” Collins told Tennis Channel following her victory over Daria Kastakina in the final of the Charleston Open on Sunday.
Incidentally, Serena was the last player to win both Miami and Charleston back-to-back, when she achieved the feat in 2013. Yet another fitting feather in the cap of Collins’ extraordinary final year on tour.
But it was the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s impact off the court, alongside sister Venus, that most inspired Collins when growing up.
“I think the Williams sisters taught all of us it doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter what you look like, your background, or how much money your parents have,” Collins continued in an emotional tribute to the pair.
“If you set your mind to something and work your tail off, anything is possible. I resonated with their story. My dad was my coach. We were at public parks. My parents were driving me all around and working double, triple shifts just so they could support my dream.
“Having those two as idols and people to look up too… I definitely feel like sometimes the way I try to hit my shots is a by-product of watching Venus and Serena play.
“To have their support and for them to be so vocal, I feel so grateful. They’re amazing on and off the court. Every time they say something nice about me I just totally blush. I fangirl a little bit. I’ve got to admit.
“If you guys are watching this, I love you guys. So thank you.”
a fitting farewell for a ferociously talented player
Williams’ impact on Collins is evident in the way she plays. Few, if any, American players have recaptured quite the level of aggression and intensity that Serena brought to the court. But Collins comes quite close.
It feels fitting that Collins idolises a player who also did not get to fulfil her perfect farewell when she stepped away from the sport after the 2022 US Open.
Williams never won another Grand Slam title after returning from maternity leave, despite coming so painfully close on several occasions.
Collins, on the other hand, never fully had the career that her talent and work ethic deserved.
Judging by the recent manner in which she has powered to two titles in the past two weeks, however, it would appear that Collins is adamant to give herself the fairytale send off that she so truly deserves.
