By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, March 24, 2025
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dethroned defending Miami champion Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-4 for her third Miami Open quarterfinal appearance.
Photo credit: Miami Open Facebook
Smacking a backhand that splashed the sideline, Aryna Sabalenka pumped her fist in celebration.
World No. 1 Sabalenka power-painted the lines and boldly brushed Danielle Collins right out of the draw.
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Sabalenka slashed seven aces dethroning defending champion Collins 6-4, 6-4 to charge into her 26th WTA 1000 quarterfinal, including her third Miami Open quarterfinal.
Continuing her dominance against the dangerous Collins, Sabalenka improved to 7-0 lifetime against the former all-American.
“I think I served very smart today and it was working really well,” Sabalenka told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “I put a bit of pressure on her.
“I was able to break at the beginning of the set and keep the pressure on her. She’s a tough opponent…always tricky matches against her, always tough matches against her. And I’m happy I was able to get this win in straight sets.”
The top-seeded Sabalenka slammed 23 winners against 12 unforced errors, often dictated play with her jarring topspin forehand and was nearly untouchable on serve. Against one of the game’s most dangerous returners, Sabalenka faced just one break point in a 78-minute sweep.
Sabalenka improved to 20-4 in 2025, tying No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Indian Wells and Dubai champion Mirra Andreeva for the Tour lead in wins.
Collins is one of three players Sabalenka is undefeated against in five or more matches.
The reigning US Open champion will face another next: Zheng Qinwen.
Sabalenka is 5-0 lifetime vs. Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng, who defeated American Ashly Krueger 6-2, 7-6(3).
If you’re thinking past is prologue for Sabalenka, she says every match is a new story.
“She’s definitely improving,” Sabalenka said of Zheng. “She’s a great player, she's a fighter. It's always tough battles against her, but I never focus on the past games against her because it’s tennis.
“You have to bring your best tennis every time out there so that’s what I’m going to focus on and I really hope I can keep the stats going my way.”
A lethargic-looking Collins called for the trainer at one point and seemed to be battling some sort of illness.
The usually feisty Floridian could not summon the shot-making or energy she showed in scoring straight-sets wins over Sorana Cirstea, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina en route to the 2024 Miami Open title.
Today, Sabalenka soared through eight of nine points backing up a love break with a quick hold for 3-1. Sabalenka served out the opening set at 15.
Crunching her topspin forehand into the corners, Sabalenka again scored the early break for a 3-1 second-set lead.
Racing up to the net, Collins had the short ball she wanted on her favored backhand, but hit right back at the Belarusian who held her ground and poked a backhand pass holding for 4-2.
Serving for the quarterfinals, Sabalenka was down 15-30 when she hit a wide second serve. Collins lined up her backhand return but dragged it wide. Sabalenka slammed a crosscourt forehand closing in 78 minutes.
Earlier, Wimbledon and French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini showed her passion rallying past four-time Grand Slam champion
Naomi Osaka 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The sixth-seeded Paolini advanced to her fourth career WTA 1000 quarterfinal and first of the 2025 season.