Miami Open 2024: Danielle Collins vs Elena Rybakina preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :March 30, 2024 at 3:49 PM

Modified at :March 30, 2024 at 5:58 PM

(Courtesy : News18/Tennis365)

This will be the fifth meeting between both players.

The Miami Open 2024 features an unlikely pair of finalists. Elena Rybakina, who has been dealing with health issues, did not defend her Indian Wells title. Danielle Collins, planning to retire at the end of the year, is making her first appearance in a WTA 1000 final.

World No.4 Elena Rybakina reached her fourth final this season with a 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2) victory over Victoria Azarenka in the Miami Open semifinals on Thursday. Rybakina maintains a 4-0 head-to-head record with Azarenka and a 22-3 record this season. She has performed well on hard courts, winning titles in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

The match against Azarenka, which was riddled with errors, took 2 hours and 33 minutes. Both players made numerous unforced errors, with Rybakina making 43 and Azarenka making 29.

Last year, Rybakina was close to winning the “Sunshine Double” but was defeated by Petra Kvitova in Miami. Now, in her second consecutive final in Florida, she will face Danielle Collins on Sunday.

American Danielle Collins advanced to the final with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova on Thursday night. Collins served five aces and won 36 out of 46 (76.6%) service points, leading her to her second Miami Open career final and her first since 2018.

Danielle Collins vs Elena Rybakina Match Details

Date: March 31, Sunday.

Time: 12:30 AM PM (IST) – 3 PM Local Time – Tentative.

Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Danielle Collins vs Elena Rybakina – Preview

Rybakina has played five matches here and has been stretched to three sets in all but one of them – her quarterfinal against Maria Sakkari. The Kazakh has dropped 69 games and spent nearly 12 hours on court en route to the final. Her path to the summit clash has taken her past Clara Tauson, Taylor Townsend, Madison Keys, Maria Sakkari and Victoria Azarenka.

In contrast, Collins has been at her best as she’s stormed into the finals in her home state for the second time. Since dropping a set in her first round against Bernada Pera, she has lost not more than three games in each set. Her wins after defeating Pera have come against Anastasia Potapova, Elina Avanesyan, Sorana Cirstea, Caroline Garcia and surprise package – Ekaterina Alexandrova.

A win in Miami would be Rybakina’s third WTA 1000 title after wins at Indian Wells and Rome last year. For Collins, a win would mark her best year on tour in recent memory.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 4

Elena Rybakina – 3

Danielle Collins – 1

Rybakina leads Collins in their career head-to-head at 3-1. Collins defeated Rybakina in 2021 – she went on to win the title in San Jose. All three of her wins have taken three sets – the most recent being in Abu Dhabi last month. The Kazakh won that showdown 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of the 2024 Miami Open final match between Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina in India?

Tennis TV and WTA TV are premium streaming services available for Indian viewers who want to watch the Miami Open finals between Danielle Collins and Elena Rybakina. The match is scheduled to begin on Saturday during the night session in Miami, Florida.

Prediction

The stage is set for the Miami Open final, where World No. 4 Elena Rybakina will compete against unseeded American and Florida native Danielle Collins. Rybakina will face local player Collins in her bid to win her first title in the “Sunshine State,” while the hometown hero aims to end her career on a high note.

At 24, Rybakina is the youngest player to reach the finals two years in a row since Maria Sharapova in 2005 and 2006. Danielle Collins, ranked World No. 53, is the second-lowest-ranked player to reach the final since Naomi Osaka in 2022.

The duo has the most winners in the 2024 Miami Open, with 177 for Rybakina and 149 for Collins. Rybakina, with a higher ranking than Collins (No. 4 vs. No. 53), is the overwhelming favorite to win. While Collins has been cruising in Florida, Rybakina will be a more formidable opponent than those the American has faced so far.

Collins aims to make her Miami Open final count and a title would be the icing on the cake. She will have the advantage of home crowd support when she faces Rybakina.

Elena Rybakina has been one of the best servers this season, with 128 aces against only 29 double faults. Rybakina’s service game win percentage stands at 81.7% since the beginning of 2024, compared to Collins’ 66%. Collins has struggled with her serve this season, making 79 double faults against 49 aces. However, Collins edges Rybakina on break-point conversion, 53.1% to Rybakina’s 47.3%.

The pressure of playing in her first WTA 1000 final might affect Collins and Rybakina would do well to capitalize on any display of nerves.

Prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in 3 sets.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram