Danielle Collins, the No. 1 seed, faced a surprising loss to young talent Erika Andreeva in her opening match at the Monterrey Open. The match, which saw Collins visibly frustrated with the crowd, ended in a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory for Andreeva.
The Match Breakdown
Erika Andreeva, who is the elder sister of rising star Mirra Andreeva, achieved a significant milestone with this win. It marked her first career victory over a top-20 player.
Collins’ Frustration with the Crowd
During the intense third set, Collins became visibly upset with a section of the audience. As she waited for Andreeva to serve, she raised her arms in disbelief and asked, “What in the world?” She expressed her frustration further, saying, “I don’t get it. It’s not that hard to let us play tennis and, like, be supportive.”
Collins’ Final Season
This season is especially significant for Collins, the world No. 11, as she is retiring at the end of the year. At just 30 years old, Collins has faced multiple health challenges, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis. These health issues have influenced her decision to retire, making the upcoming US Open her final grand slam appearance.
A Stellar Final Year
Despite her health struggles, Collins has had a remarkable final year on the WTA tour. She claimed her first WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open in March and followed it up with another win at the Charleston Open in April. Her achievements this year have added a bittersweet note to her career as she approaches retirement.
Andreeva’s Path Forward
Andreeva, who is just 20 years old, entered the second round with a solid straight-sets win over Anhelina Kalinina. With this victory against Collins, Andreeva advances to the quarterfinals, where she will face either Lulu Sun or María Lourdes Carlé.
Other Tournament Surprises
In another surprising outcome, Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, was upset by qualifier Ana Bogdan in the first round of the Cleveland Championships. Fernandez, the No. 2 seed and world No. 24, struggled with her serve, committing 11 double faults. Despite serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, Fernandez was unable to close it out, eventually losing 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-2.
Conclusion
The Monterrey Open has already delivered unexpected results, with top seeds like Collins and Fernandez facing early exits. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the rising stars like Erika Andreeva, who are making their mark on the tour.(Superace88)