Beyond the tennis court, Danielle Collins, the American Miami Open Champion of 2024, holds a deep affection for her canine companions. Her beloved dog, Quincy, often referred to as ‘Mr. Q’, is more than a pet to her. He’s a confidant, a source of good fortune, and, in her own words, the real MVP of her Miami Open victory.
Following her recent R32 victory against Rebeka Masarova, Collins shared a touching tale about another dog she encountered on the streets of Miami. She emotionally recounted the incident in an on-court interview, “We spotted a dog lying in the middle of the road as we were leaving the stadium the other night. The poor creature had been hit by a car. We immediately pulled over and took him off the street.”
The dog, now named Crash, has been in critical condition at an animal hospital for the past two days. Collins expressed her desire to adopt him, saying, “We hope to bring him home soon. I request everyone to pray for my new pet, Crash, who has been named so because of the unfortunate car crash he was involved in. Please send positive vibes his way.”
Collins’ affinity for dogs extends to her family, too. She owns four dogs – Scout, Lola (also known as Apple Pie), Harper, and Quincy. She has frequently mentioned the comfort and joy these faithful companions bring to her and her family. Even during her training, her dogs are never far from sight. They accompanied her during her practice sessions at Indian Wells, and Quincy continues to be a bearer of good luck for her in Miami.
After her second-round victory over Sorana Cîrstea, Collins made sure to acknowledge her furry friend, Quincy, by signing the camera with a simple message: “Hi Quincy”. She admitted in a press conference that having her dog around during tournaments positively impacts her performance, stating, “I’ve realized my weeks are better with Mr. Q.”
As Collins gears up for her toughest challenge yet against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, she hopes to keep this positive momentum going. Miami isn’t just another tournament for Collins; it’s home. She once shared how she used to plead with her father to take her to the Miami Open, to which he responded, ‘You can go when you play in the tournament.’ Collins made her dream a reality last year by defeating Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in the final. Now, she’s back with a determination to defend her title.
The 30-year-old began her title defense with a straight-sets 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Sorana Cîrstea. She then managed to extend her unbeaten run in Miami to nine matches by surviving a tough three-setter against qualifier Rebeka Masarova in the third round. On the other hand, Aryna Sabalenka has displayed a dominant form, cruising past Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-0, and securing a spot in the fourth round after Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired due to injury.
Collins and Sabalenka share an extensive history. Since 2018, they’ve faced each other six times, and each time, Sabalenka has emerged victorious. Their seventh encounter will be in the fourth round of the Miami Open 2025 on Monday, March 24. With the home-court advantage on Collins’ side and history favoring Sabalenka, it remains to be seen if Collins can finally crack the code. What’s your take on this upcoming match?