4 U.S. players who have won the women’s singles title at Miami Open ft. Serena Williams, Danielle Collins

Last week, Danielle Collins achieved the greatest victory of her professional career at the Miami Open. She became part of a select group of American players who have triumphed at this prestigious hardcourt tournament in the 21st century.

Over the past 25 years, the Miami Open has been largely influenced by American players, with the Williams sisters and other talented homegrown athletes leading the charge. Serena’s impressive performances at the tournament have even sparked talks of a potential stadium being named after her in the future. Her sister Venus Williams also made her mark on the event during her prime years.

Let’s now shift our focus towards four Americans who have emerged victorious in the Miami Open women’s title during the 21st century.

4) Sloane Stephens’ Dominant Run in 2018

Fourth place on this list is held by Sloane Stephens, a former World No. 3 player who emerged victorious at the Miami Open in 2018.

Stephens stole the limelight on the women’s circuit with an impressive performance at the US Open 2017. Despite being an unseeded player, she shocked five of the top 30 seeds to secure her maiden Grand Slam title in New York.

Originally from Florida, the American continued to surprise in 2018 by winning the Miami Open title. Despite a third-round loss in Indian Wells, she began the tournament with a solid victory against Ajla Tomljanovic.

Despite being the 13th seed, she was able to overpower top players such as Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka, and Jelena Ostapenko, ultimately earning her first title in Miami. In the finals, she triumphed over Ostapenko with a score of 7-6(5), 6-1.

After winning in Miami, Stephens advanced to the finals of the French Open in 2018. However, she was unable to defeat the top seed Simona Halep and make a name for herself.

3) Meet Danielle Collins – Future Star of 2024

The most recent addition to this list is none other than Danielle Collins, the current champion of the Miami Open.

Despite putting in the hard work on tour, Collins announced her retirement from tennis at the end of this year following a disappointing performance in the Australian Open 2024. Despite being trophyless for almost three years, her greatest achievement had been a second-place finish in the Australian Open 2022, where she was defeated by Ashleigh Barty in the finals.

Despite a string of ordinary results on tour, the American surprisingly wowed onlookers with a spectacular performance at the 2024 Miami Open. She achieved victory over top-ranked opponents like Caroline Garcia, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Elena Rybakina, ultimately claiming the most significant title of her career on home turf. In a dominant display, Collins triumphed over Rybakina with a score of 7-5, 6-3 in the finals.

2) Serena Williams – Record Eight-time Champion at the Miami Open

Ranking second on the list is the legendary Serena Williams, considered one of the best tennis players in history. Her record at the Miami Open sets an incredibly high standard for any future players to match. With an impressive eight championship wins and a 90% success rate, she dominates the second half of the Sunshine Double.

During her playing career, Serena made it to the finals of the Miami Open a total of nine times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015). In 2009, she experienced a stumble when Victoria Azarenka defeated her in straight sets. Serena’s final appearance in the Miami Open was in 2019.

Venus Williams – Career and Accomplishments

Concluding the list of American champions at the Miami Open in the 21st century is Venus Williams, a former World No. 1 player.

The legendary tennis player made her presence known in the women’s tour by finishing as a runner-up in the US Open in 1997. Three years later, she secured her first Major title at the Wimbledon Championships in 2000 and solidified her position as a dominant force in the sport.

In 2001, following her semifinal exit at the Indian Wells, Venus Williams competed in the Miami Open. She began her journey by easily defeating Miriam Oremans with a final score of 6-2, 6-0.

Despite facing tough competition from players such as Jelena Dokic, Martina Hingis, and Jennifer Capriati, the American used her clever tactics to secure her third victory in the Miami Open. She had previously won the event in 1998 and 1999 under its former name, the Sony Ericsson Open.