Danielle Collins beats Ekaterina Alexandrova to set up Miami final with Elena Rybakina

Danielle Collins secured her inaugural 1000 series final in Miami on Thursday, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win in what is her last year on the WTA Tour before retirement.

Collins will compete against the fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina in the upcoming final after defeating Alexandrova and securing her spot.

Despite denying that her success in the tournament was due to playing freely post-retirement announcement,

Collins appeared calm and in command in the match. She expressed particularly appreciating the victory in her home state, referring to it as one of her most memorable moments.

Collins managed to break Alexandrova's serve multiple times throughout the match, leading to her victory in straight sets after a closely contested first set.

Acknowledging Alexandrova's similar playing style, Collins admitted that it required her to elevate her game and stay focused to secure the win.