Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Abu Dhabi)
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka failed to make the most of a wild card at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open when her comeback trail was cut short by Danielle Collins, a player who has announced this season as her swansong.
At the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, on Tuesday, the American Collins ran out a clear winner with a 7-5, 6-0 result in their first-round contest. Osaka could not address the media as the Japanese was due on court again in few hours to play doubles along with Tunisian partner Ons Jabeur. They lost eventually.
Osaka took a maternity break and is trying to return since giving birth to daughter Shai in July. And her rival acknowledged it even as she took a second successive win against Osaka. The head-to-head record is still 3-2 for Osaka.
Four years ago, Iga Swiatek, the current world No. 1 had said of Collins that "she hits the fastest balls I have ever seen" and Osaka had to find a way through her powerful serve. The latter had just one or two moments of brilliance, including registering a 205kph serve, ironically.
"I thought I played well today," Collins said. "Naomi is obviously still coming back. But with her game style, I kind of knew what to expect and just kind of needed to lean into my tactics. Luckily I was playing some of my better tennis, so that was helpful."
The former world No. 7, like a true professional at 30 years, had an encouraging note for Osaka, who has lost three out of four matches since the start of the season. Osaka struggled in her service games in the second set and failed to convert any of her six break point opportunities to fall to the American qualifier in one hour and 23 minutes.
The first set went on serve and in the 11th game, Osaka had the chance to break when Collins started with a double fault and unforced error. But Osaka failed to control her returns and Collins fought back to hold. That proved a wake-up call for Collins as she powered her way to break Osaka in the next game and take the lead before it went into a potential tie-break.
Stepping 🆙
— wta (@WTA) February 6, 2024
Danielle Collins ousts Osaka 7-5, 6-0 in Abu Dhabi and next faces top seed Rybakina!#MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen pic.twitter.com/oTtfZdANaY
Osaka then stretched her opponent to four set points, able to dip into her experience to only delay Collins as she continued to ram past volleys while the Japanese struggle to find her rhythm. In the next set, Osaka tried to seize the advantage at the start of the second set but whatever she tried to do to disturb her actually boomeranged as she got broken in the first and third games.
At 3-0 down, she then had her best chance, racking up three break points. And then Osaka unravelled again as Collins fought her way back to hold serve. That point was a microcosm of the whole match, and all that was left to see is how Osaka tried to meditate or hold back a public vent-up of the frustration within.
The American had a reassuring parting note for Osaka. "She played a good first set and was serving very well and doing some really great things out on court. I'm sure, at this point, it's just kind of regaining confidence and getting more matches under her belt, which can be challenging. But I thought she played well overall."
Collins beat Osaka, a two-time US Open winner, in the first round of the 2022 US Open. She plays top seed Elena Rybakina next. Collins has navigated some brutal draws in her first five weeks of 2024. At the Australian Open last month, she beat three-time major winner Angelique Kerber before falling to Swiatek in the second round.
Asked if she has a slightly different mindset since she has said she is calling it a day from the daily grind on tour, Collins said: "Not really, to be honest. I definitely have seen that approach for some people, but I feel like I've always been so regimented and disciplined in how I train and prepare... I still have the itch and want to come out and compete. It's not over yet. That is just a product of my personality.
"At this point I feel like I'm ready for the next chapter [after retirement] and I'm really excited about it. I needed to have an end date and it gives my family and friends the ability to come support me in some final tournaments. I think that will be really special," Collins said.
