Collins pushing herself to new limits with Charleston Open title: “I want to go out with my best results”

By Tournament Staff Apr 7, 2024 06:11pm ET

Credit One Stadium, Credit One Charleston Open 2024 Credit One Charleston Open Day 9 at Credit One Stadium on April 07, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Whether it be the freedom that comes with knowing it’s her final year on the WTA Tour or just the kind of confidence a fiery personality like hers is born with, there’s no doubt that whatever the reason – Danielle Collins is playing the best tennis of her life

No better timing than at the twilight of her professional career, right?

“To be able to physically battle and push myself to a new limit gives me a lot of confidence,” said Collins in press after her demolition of a fatigued Daria Kasatkina in the Credit One Charleston Open final – as if she needs any more confidence. “I’ve been so happy to be playing at the level that I’ve been playing [and] to be able to back it up two weeks in a row has just been fantastic.”

Credit One Stadium, Credit One Charleston Open
2024 Credit One Charleston Open Day 9 at Credit One Stadium on April 07, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Just last week, the 30-year-old from St. Petersburg Florida, claimed the biggest title of her career at the Miami Open, the very WTA 1000 event where she announced herself at the WTA Tour level back in 2018, reaching the semis.

So why not back that up with her second biggest title one week later – on a completely different surface?

“When I sign up for something or make the commitment to play an event, I really try to fulfill that commitment, unless there’s something really wrong,” said Collins.

“I was healthy after Miami, and I was playing really great tennis, and like I said, this is a player-favorite event. This is really special for all of us, and I’ve had so many great memories here on and off the court. I won doubles here last year. I have really great friends that live here. And so it was a no-brainer to come here.”

Despite having mentioned several times this year the “very personal decision” that she would be hanging up her racquets at the end of the 2024 season, one still can’t help but wonder – why not extend her career by a bit more given the quality of the tennis that the former Grand Slam finalist has been putting up?

“I’m really happy that I can showcase my best tennis in these last couple of events, because I think that’s the way I want to go out, and I want to go out with my best results,” said the former two-time NCAA champ.

“I know everyone has a different way of retiring and ending their career, but for me I want to try to go out playing my best tennis.”