'I played a warrior today,' Humble Danielle Collins stays grounded as the WTA beauty lauds opponent Maria Sakkari after reaching the Charleston Finals

It’s been so fun coming out here and battling. It’s what I do. I just love to battle. I played a warrior today. Maria has had such a successful career. One of our most consistent players. It’s never easy. I had to work for it. Danielle Collins said after the match

Before meeting Collins, Sakkari had defeated Veronika Kudermetova in the previous round. Also, after this win over the Greek, Collins tied the head-to-head record at 2-2.

Daria Kasatkina calls Danielle Collins a fearless player

Russia’s Daria Kasatkina humbled top seed Jessica Pegula in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7-5) to reach the final. After her match, she called Danielle Collins a dangerous player on tour right now. The fourth seed is also predicting an electrifying atmosphere in the final because she will be playing against an American.

She's fearless. When she feels her game, she's one of the most dangerous players on tour, and she definitely feels it right now. Daria Kasatkina said after the match

Collins has now defeated three top 10 players in one week. That win over Sakkari was also the American’s 21st win of the year.

Collins and Kasatkina have locked horns three times on the WTA tour so far. The Russian leads the head-to-head record, winning two of the matches.

They last met at the 2021 San Jose Open. Sakkari clinched the victory against the American when they met on clay at the 2018 Rome Open, their only encounter on the surface.

Kasatkina’s best performance came at the Abu Dhabi Open this year. She reached the final but couldn’t lift her first title of the season as World No.4 Elena Rybakina (the opponent Collins beat at Miami Open final) defeated her in straight sets. Before Charleston Open, Kasatkina lost to Sorana Cîrstea in the third round in Miami.