Danielle Collins follows Miami title with championship at Charleston Open

“At first, I wanted to say I’ll miss you on tour but after this match I’m not sure,” Kasatkina said during the trophy ceremony. “To be honest, I’m going to miss you because you’re such a character. Your personality is amazing. Tennis is going to lose a lot after you’re done.”

Collins had dealt with painful endometriosis, where tissue in the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause difficulty getting pregnant if not treated and Collins made a life decision to end her career for other goals like having children.

Her recent success has not changed her perspective or plans for retirement.

“I’m really happy that I can showcase my best tennis in these last couple of events, because I think that’s the way I want to go out,” she said. “I want to go out with my best results. I know everyone has a different way of retiring and ending their career, but for me I want to try to go out playing my best tennis.”

Collins never thought about cancelling plans for Charleston after her success at Miami. She drove home to Tampa, then drove herself to Charleston. She does not have a full-time coach or many of the staffers that some WTA players travel with.

“I guess, I’m just a low-maintenance gal,” she joked.

She did have her boyfriend, Bryan Kipp in the stands, along with her beloved dog, Quincy, who she shouted out to the crowd after receiving the trophy.

“I better wrap this up, but he sees me,” Collins said.

Collins, who is ranked 22nd, has won 26 of her past 27 sets. She will take a few days off before playing in Madrid later this month.

“Hopefully,” said Collins, “when Madrid comes around, I am back in ‘Danimal’ mode.”