Danielle Collins continued her red-hot form on Thursday, winning two matches at the rain-delayed Credit One Charleston Open to book her spot in the quarterfinals. The American, who announced this will be her final season on tour, has won an impressive ten consecutive matches and 20 of her last 21 sets.
Wednesday’s downpour threw Thursday’s schedule into disarray, forcing a logjam of matches. Unfazed by the disruption, Collins took center court for the day’s opening match against second-seeded Ons Jabeur of Tunisia. The encounter proved a classic three-setter, with Collins eventually emerging victorious 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a battle lasting just over two hours.
Following a well-deserved break, Collins returned to the court later that evening to face fellow American Sloane Stephens, the 2016 Charleston champion. The second match proved to be much more straightforward, with Collins dispatching Stephens in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) in just over an hour.
“I can’t remember the last time I played five sets in a day,” Collins admitted after her marathon victory. “It was probably back in the juniors,” she laughed. “The weather threw us a curveball, but you must be adaptable on days like this.”
Collins’ resilience and adaptability were on full display throughout Thursday. She displayed a decisive baseline game, peppering Jabeur and Stephens with winners from both sides of the court. Her aggressive style, coupled with her impressive fitness levels, proved too much for both opponents.
The 30-year-old Floridian, who captured the Miami Open title last week, is enjoying a dream farewell tour. Her victory over Jabeur, a significant upset, showcased her ability to rise to the occasion against top competition. With her win streak growing, the question on everyone’s lips is: can Collins continue her dominance and claim another title in Charleston?
Tennis fans will eagerly await her subsequent encounter as she looks to extend her winning run and cement her place as one of the stories of the clay-court season.
