Danielle Collins has been on fire this year, and she will ensure that her farewell season on the WTA Tour will end on a high note.
At least, that's what she has been doing for the best part of three months. Collins is the best-performing American woman in 2024, and the WTA race can validate that claim because she's scored more points than her more accomplished compatriots, like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
However, when the new rankings are updated on Monday, one thing they'll have in common is that three American women will be in the Top 10, and one of them will be Collins.
The 30-year-old Floridian delivered a bombshell after her defeat to Iga Swiatk at the Australian Open. She stunned reporters when she revealed her intention to retire this season, although she did not give a full account of what her last tournament would be.
That decision has pretty much served as a launchpad to a career-best season for the former Grand Slam finalist. Collins has won two WTA titles, one of which came in her home tournament in Miami when she defeated World No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the final at the end of March.
A week later, she hoisted her second title in Charleston, beating Daria Kasatkina in the final. She has been on a tear since leaving Melbourne. Only Iga Swiatek (38) has more wins than the high-flying American (35) in 2024.
This week, Collins has been in action at the Strasbourg Open, the last stop before Roland Garros. Reaching the semifinal at the WTA 500 event secured her Top 10 return (10th).
And because she will not defend any points at Roland Garros (she lost in the first round last year), there is a good chance she will climb even higher than 10th at the end of the clay-court swing if the winning spree continues.