“Danimal” Collins feels he has a “target on his back”. Tense moment in the match with Jaqueline Cristian

Our athlete (25 years old, 73 WTA), coming from the qualifications, bowed after two hours of play in front of one of the most fit players in the circuit. The Romanian won the first set, 6-3, and then played evenly with her opponent in the second act, the difference being made by a break by the American in the last game (4-6). Collins (30 years old, 15 WTA), author of 8 aces, managed to make the difference in the decisive set, which she won 6-1.

A tense moment of the match took place at the beginning of the second set, when the American, far from her top form, was admonished by a fan in the stands. “Danimal”, so nicknamed for her volcanic temperament, did not remain in debt and answered the supporter who disturbed her after a lost point.

“Come here and play! Come here and do what I do, okay? You have more respectCollins said to the boisterous fan.

Collins, who reached 15 wins in a row in the WTA circuit and who lost only one set on the way to the trophies in Miami and Charleston, had to play a decisive set with both Danilovic (10-8 in the deciding tiebreak) and and with Jaqueline Cristian.

“I’ve been doing really well lately, so the girls are more motivated than ever when I meet them. They know what to expect and they want to end my streak.

In the last two matches, I had opponents who made excellent shots, didn’t offer me anything for free and believed in their chance. I had to counterattack, I had to play faster and my reaction time was shorter. The service got me out in both matches, but I knew it would be difficult. When you have such a long winning streak, you have a target on your back, but I try to be ready for any challenge“, said Collins at the end of the game with Jaqueline Cristian.

In the round of 16 in Madrid for the first time in her career, Collins will have a very difficult task, she will meet the 2nd favorite, Aryna Sabalenka, none other than last year’s champion. However, Belarus is not in the best shape, losing two of the last 5 matches and losing at least one set in each of the disputes.