Who would’ve thought that in an era dominated by the likes of Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and others, Danielle Collins, a name that was on the verge of retirement would break through the ranks and stun everyone? Collins, an American tennis sensation, who announced right at the start of the year that this could well be her last year, has suddenly found her best tennis and looks a pure force to be dealt with at the moment.

Winning back-to-back titles in Miami Open and Charleston Open, she not only equaled Serena Williams’ record but also suggested she is not stopping anytime soon. But now, things won’t be the same for her. It is the European clay season and Danielle Collins would be looking to start off from where she left off. But, here’s when things start to get interesting. The question that now lies is: Is Collins really a worthy contender to win the French Open?

Clay court convert? Examining Collins’ French Open chances

Often regarded as one of the most prestigious grand slams of the year, French Open, which is played on clay, is something that most Americans consider as their weak point. Talking about Danielle Collins, the 30-year-old American superstar is a force on hardcourts, reaching multiple finals and securing impressive victories. Moreover, she has quite a decent record when it comes to the clay courts.

Out of the 108 matches that she has played on clay courts so far, she has managed to come out victorious on 73 occasions while tasting defeat on 35 occasions. Her best performance came back in the year 2020 when she managed to make her way into the quarter-finals of the tournament, winning 5 straight matches.

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Playing Style: Can Aggression Conquer Clay?

Collins’ aggressive baseline game, built on powerful groundstrokes, has the potential to be effective on clay. However, adapting to the demands of clay-court rallies, with their emphasis on strategic movement and controlled power, will be crucial

Factors in Her Favor: Confidence and the Power of Adaptation

Confidence, undeniably boosted by recent wins, is a vital ingredient for success in any major tournament. Can Collins surprise us again? With her coach’s guidance, can she adapt her game to the unique challenges of clay?

Recent Form: A Glimmer of Hope

Her recent hardcourt run has been undeniable. Peak fitness and top-level play have propelled her to victories, leaving fans and analysts alike in awe. The question that lingers: can she replicate this magic on the slower, more demanding clay surface?

Competition From Clay-court Specialists

But, things have changed this year and with the firm that she has carried, she could be one of the top contenders to lift the title. However, her journey will not be easy at all. Standing her way will be the clay court favorite Iga Swiatek. The Polish player has been one of the top names to look out for when it comes to clay courts.

On the other hand, talking about her American competition, she will also face a tough challenge from compatriot Coco Gauff. At just 20, Coco Gauff has already managed to make the finals of the French Open whereas Danielle Collins couldn’t do so in her career as a pro. It was back in 2022 when Coco Gauff made the finals of the French Open only to lose out to the queen of clay Iga Swiatek.

So, the journey to the top in clay won’t be a cakewalk at all for Danielle Collins. With some tough competition from the best players in the world and even compatriots, she will have to give her everything and make her way past the rest. It will, however, be interesting to see how things fold in the future. Currently playing in the Madrid Open, she has shown that she is not going to stop unless she wins the title.

Collins rolls on! Dominant victory in Madrid makes it 14 wins straight

Danielle Collins, at the moment, seems to be flying high and does not want to land any time soon. Currently playing in Madrid, she managed to come out on top by defeating Olga Danilovic in a three-set thriller. Starting from the French Open, she has now established a huge 14-0 record. This pretty much speaks of her prowess on the courts.

Not only this, out of these 14 wins, she has dropped a set only 3 times which in itself is crazy. With this, Collins claimed her 23rd tour-level victory of 2024, third-best on the WTA (trailing only Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek). She will now be going up against Romanian Jaqueline Cristian hoping to keep her momentum up and running. The Final Verdict?

While Collins is a dark horse, her recent form and adaptability make her a contender. If she can translate her hardcourt dominance and adjust her game to clay, she could be a serious threat at Roland Garros. But to truly be America’s champion, she’ll need to overcome the experience and skill of established clay-court specialists. Will she rise to the occasion and rewrite her clay-court narrative? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the American tennis world will be watching with bated breath.