Miami Open: Danielle Collins beats Caroline Garcia to reach the semis

Danielle Collins became the first qualifier to reach the Miami Open semifinals in the tournament’s history. Now, in what she has said is the final year of her career.

Collins made it to her second final four here after beating the No.23 seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2.

Since losing her first set of the tournament to compatriot Bernarda Pera, Collins, 31, has won her last 10 and lost only 19 games.

Her 80-minute win against Garcia, who beat Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff in back-to-back rounds to reach the quarterfinals in Miami for the first time, marks her third win against a seeded player in five matches over the past seven days.

The former World No.7 player and 2022 Australian Open runner-up, now ranked No.53, improved to 4-0 all-time against Garcia by breaking serve three times. Collins never faced a break point.

“I think a lot of these sports psychology books, they talk about being in the zone, almost feeling like you’re hitting beach balls,” Collins said. “I think it can feel like that at times. That’s a good thing. In other times that I have played well and have had deep runs in tournaments, it’s been like that. And then in other times, it’s like going out to the golf range and having a bad day and you’re missing shots.

“But right now I’m timing the ball really well.”

In all, Collins lost only 11 points in nine service games in Wednesday’s match. She also hit 22 winners to Garcia’s 12.

“I think, depending on the match up, some people are more favorable against others,” Collins said after the match. “I think Caro comes out here and fights her butt off. She hits some really strong shots … and I don’t think the set scores are a reflection of how close the match really is.

“Against someone like Caro, it forces me to be more concentrated, because I know I don’t want to give her an inch.”

She’ll face the winner of Wednesday night’s match between No.4 seed Jessica Pegula and No.14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova — who conquered World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.