"I think it's a good question, but I think at the end of the day... this is my personal choice, and this is so much more to do than just tennis and my career." 🇺🇸 Danielle Collins when asked if her retirement decision could change based on the year's results (🎥: DAZN, WTA)
2024 Miami Open Women's Semi-Final MATCH PREVIEW: Home hero Danielle COLLINS aims to go out on a high, faces Ekaterina ALEXANDROVA
WTAThursday, 28 March 2024 at 17:24
The second semi-final will take place in the early hours of Friday morning European time at the Miami Open and will see Danielle Collins face Ekaterina Alexandrova in a battle of two players who weren't expected to make it this far at the latest WTA 1000.
The other half sees Elena Rybakina face Victoria Azarenka which takes place early evening on Thursday meaning that when the second semi-final takes place, the opponent will already be set. Our preview looks back at each player's run and offers a prediction at the end.
Road to the Final - Awesome Alexandrova defeats multiple top seeds en route
Part of a group of Russian stars (see Veronika Kudermetova, Liudmila Samsonova), Ekaterina Alexandrova has always been a bit of a spoiler and has been a player that on her day can defeat all of the top names.
That has happened thus far in Miami with the four time WTA Singles Champion defeating Donna Vekic with a fairly easy degree to start the tournament before then taking down Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who continues to rise again after injury issues, but she lost in three sets. Then it was two of the top seeds who fell to the brilliance of Alexandrova.
First was Iga Swiatek with the World Number One being rampantly beaten 4-6, 2-6 by Alexandrova, but unlike Garcia with Gauff for instance, there was no hangover with the Russian carrying it on with a great steel and determination as she took down Jessica Pegula in three sets in a quality contest. In reality Collins on paper should be the simplest task of all, but similar to Alexandrova, the Floridian has been perhaps the best player this tournament.
Road to the Final - With retirement in sight, Collins thrives
A story line this season has been Danielle Collins' sudden decision to end her career after the 2023 season at the age of 31. A player who has long suffered with endometriosis making it incredible that she plays no mind to the level she does, Collins prefers to start a family while she still can with no desire to go down the Osaka, Kerber etc route of returning post pregnancy.
Collins has perhaps a freedom and isn't chasing ranking points or anything anymore so can go out with some semblance of just leaving it all on the court and she has done just that this season. She has only lost one set all tournament against Bernarda Pera in her opener, but has remained imperious in taking down Anastasia Potapova, Elina Avanesyan, Sorana Cirstea and Caroline Garcia to get to this point.
Six years ago, Collins made her first splash in her early 20's at the Miami Open and as her career ends, she takes her final bow with the last run. How apt could it be if she can win the title this weekend also in her home state. A really incredible story.
It also highlights in her case as per her press conference where a journalist asked about a U-turn in her minds the double standards as in her view, a man wouldn't be asked the same question surrounding a change of heart and it'd just be left alone. But while she won't be making a U-turn, it is perhaps the final sendoff albeit with a lot of the season left that Collins does deserve. It is the duo's first meeting so no head to head exists.
Prediction - Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets
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