Danielle Collins may be unable to mark her final season with an appearance at the WTA Finals after withdrawing from the China Open.
Collins announced in January that 2024 would be her final year as a professional player. She has made her last season one to remember with some outstanding results, especially on home soil in the United States.
The 30-year-old won her first WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open in March, overcoming Elena Rybakina in the final. Collins was born in Florida, making her success in Miami even more special.
However, Collins was not done there. After triumphing in Miami, she secured the Charleston Open title the following week. Incredibly, she went 12 consecutive matches without dropping a set.
Her winning streak of 15 matches finally came to an end against Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open, but the American's powerful and blistering tennis during that period will live long in the memory.
Collins continued to perform solidly for the next few months, although she did not reach her amazing level from late match to early April. At the start of last month, she progressed to the quarterfinals of the Olympics.
The Miami Open champion sustained an injury in the quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek and was forced to retire. That match is also notable for the heated words Collins directed at the Pole when they shook hands.
Collins' fortunes have nosedived since then. After missing the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens because of her injury, she has not been the same player since returning to the WTA Tour.
She lost in three sets in the first round of her final US Open against Caroline Dolehide. Afterward, Collins refused a farewell ceremony, saying she disliked celebrating her accomplishments.
Despite that setback at the year's final Grand Slam, Collins remains in the fight to qualify for the WTA Finals. She is one place below her compatriot Emma Navarro, who occupies the final qualifying spot.
Collins hoped to close the gap or even surpass Navarro at the Guadalajara Open, but she lost her opening match in Mexico against the eventual runner-up Olivia Gadecki, further harming her chances of making it to the year-end tournament in Riyadh.
The world No. 10 would undoubtedly have hoped to hit the ground running during the Asian swing, but that will not happen after Collins withdrew from the China Open in Beijing.
Sadly, the American No. 4 has an illness that is preventing her from competing in the first of two WTA 1000 tournaments in China. This could deal a fatal blow to her WTA Finals hopes.
Collins will hope Navarro loses in the early rounds in Beijing, so her absence is not too damaging. A deep run for Navarro in the Chinese capital would all but end the 30-year-old's chances.
Several players have withdrawn from the China Open. The most notable was Iga Swiatek, who pulled out of the tournament because of personal issues. That gives Aryna Sabalenka a chance to gain ground in the race to finish the year as the world no. 1.