Elena Rybakina is back in the Miami Open final once more and she's taking on a player who never stood in a WTA 1000 final.
Danielle Collins has been a pretty consistent player for a while but also battles a chronic condition, which makes it pretty hard to really go all the way in tennis. It's part of why she simply will stop after this year, which she announced a few weeks ago.
The level was never the issue, but her body simply didn't cooperate well enough to become one of the best players in the world, something she clearly has the talent for. This won't be her biggest final, as she played in the Australian Open final a few years ago, but it is her first WTA 1000 final.
It isn't for Rybakina, who has won the WTA 1000 event before and also stood in the Miami Open final before. She lost to Petra Kvitova in the final last year, so she'll be eager to get it done this year.
Collins and Rybakina have played a few times already, and Rybakina has been generally better. One of their matches was even played this year, and it was a win for Rybakina, though she needed three sets to do so.
Actually, the only match that was ever played in two sets happened in 2021, and Collins won that one. This has three sets written all over it because Rybakina hasn't been playing sharply this week.
She's been good, but many of her matches went to three sets, which means that she can be beaten. Collins will likely produce a good effort but falter in the end.
| Elena Rybakina | Danielle Collins | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | H2H | 1 |
| 4 | Rank | 53 |
| 24 | Age | 30 |
| 22-3 | 2024 W/L | 19-7 |
| 311-135 | Career W/L | 245-146 |
I do think the American could win, but I do not believe it will happen. This event is Rybakina's comfort event, and she' should finally get the trophy.
Prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.