“I had to keep telling myself, ‘Leave those emotions in locker room’” – Danielle Collins on using her fond childhood memories with father to win Miami

As she secured the biggest title of her career at the 2024 Miami Open, Danielle Collins reflected on treasured moments from her childhood with her father, Walter. This win may mark the end of her tennis career as she considers retiring later this year.

On March 30, Collins emerged victorious in her home state’s championship match, defeating last year’s runner-up Elena Rybakina. She clinched the win with a 7-5, 6-3 score, dominating with a 75% success rate on her first serves and converting three out of seven break points. The match lasted a little over two hours.

During her celebratory address, Danielle Collins shared the story of a pivotal moment from her childhood. She remembered how her father’s words, stating that she could only attend the Miami Open if she aspired to play there one day, fueled her determination and propelled her towards achieving success.

“To the fans, I mean, I have played a lot of tennis and I have played a few finals but nothing close to this,”Collins said. “To play in my home state, the tournament that I used to watch on TV as a kid. My dad said like, ‘If you are not playing in the tournament, you are not going.’ So, I had to work really hard to get here.”

The Florida native acknowledged feeling emotional prior to performing in front of her local fans, but she had to set aside those emotions in the locker room and concentrate on the game.

“To come out here and feel like I am playing in front of my thousands of best friends and everybody that was pushing me to get over this hurdle today just meant the world,”Collins said.

“I was getting very emotional and I had to keep telling myself, ‘Leave those emotions in the locker room and wait till after the match.’ It was an incredible environment. I have never experienced anything like it.”