Danielle Collins is accustomed to wearing a game face when on the court but admitted to being overcome by emotions in the aftermath of winning this year's Miami Open.
Collins, a proud native of Florida, became the most unexpected champion of a WTA 1000 this season, which she has stated will be her last. At 30, the American savored her best tennis to win her biggest career title in Miami.
She defeated Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in two hours. The most remarkable stat outside Collins' name being on the winner's column was that she saved a grand total of ten break points from 11. Four of those she nullified in the seventh game of the first set, which proved critical.
Collins was also alert in withstanding a late barrage from the Kazakh when serving for the championship, fending off a couple of break back chances before converting her fourth match point.
After the match the American spoke to Sky Sports. She immediately evoked her delight of finally overcoming the hump of winning a WTA 1000 title. Collins called it a "surreal" moment to be able to play a final in front of her home fans and get enormous crowd support in the match.
"This is my first WTA 1000, and I've worked so hard. I feel like it has taken me longer than other players on tour. Today was just surreal coming out here and playing in front of so many people who were behind me. Obviously, I've played in the Australian Open final against Ashleigh Barty and have been in that environment before, but having the whole stadium on my side was something so special."
Collins then joked about her fearless and emotionless attitude on the court which many critics have pointed out while watching her matches. she explained that it was "hard" for her to keep her emotions in check after clinching the final point.
"It's hard not to get emotional (laughing). Like sitting in the changeover and saying, 'Is she emotional in the locker room?' And by the end of it, it meant so much to try to get over this hurdle."
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