Get ready for sparks to fly when Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko step onto the court! Their encounters are notorious for their drama, fueled by their similarly fiery personalities. Neither player is one to back down from heated exchanges or awkward handshakes, as fans who recall their Round of 32 match in Abu Dhabi in 2023 can attest. That thrilling three-setter, eventually won by Ostapenko, featured a memorable moment when Collins appeared to confront someone in the crowd, exclaiming “Excuse me” before approaching the umpire. Subsequently, speculation from fans and experts like Rennae Stubbs suggested Collins’ frustration was directed at someone in Ostapenko’s box. Now, nearly two years removed from that incident, it seems the tension between these two fierce competitors may have eased somewhat.

After that match, Ostapenko let out a roar, and everyone thought that there could be a ‘cold-hand‘ shake moment between the two. But Collins showcased her class at the end by shaking hands with the Latvian. Even Ostapenko was seen showering praise on the American after that match. She said, “Danielle is a great player, and it’s always a tough match against her because she plays really well and she’s such a fighter. The match is never over until we shake hands.” Ostapenko currently has a lead over Collins by a 2-1 margin, and both these players are now all set to cross paths in the R16 of the 2025 Charleston Open.

As the defending champion, Danielle Collins began her Charleston Open campaign strongly, defeating her fellow American, Robin Montgomery, 6-3, 6-1 in the previous round. Jelena Ostapenko, this year’s Qatar Open finalist, snapped her four-match losing streak by beating Louisa Chirico of the USA in her opening Charleston match. With two of their three previous encounters requiring a deciding third set, anticipation is high for their upcoming clash. What did Ostapenko have to say about the formidable “Danimal” leading up to this match?

It turns out the Latvian, who is playing her ninth tournament of the year(having won back-to-back matches only in Doha), had nothing but praise for Collins!

“We’ve played a few times. She’s a great player and also a great personality. It’s going to be a tough match. I think we pretty much play the same style of tennis, so I think we’re going to have some big-hitting rallies. She’s the way she is. She’s not like trying to be someone that people are waiting for. She’s just herself and she’s the real what she is, and I kind of like it,” the 2017 French Open champion said of the defending Charleston champion.

What did Danielle Collins say after starting her title defense run on a winning note, though?

Danielle Collins’ reaction after securing her spot in the R16 of the 2025 Charleston Open

Last year, Danielle Collins’ title triumph in Charleston came in the midst of an impressive 15-match winning streak on the Tour. Her incredible run at that time helped her secure a spot inside the Top 10. Well, this year, although Collins has dropped down to number, 22 in the WTA Rankings and even her win-loss record  (6-4) hasn’t been too great, she seemed to be quite excited while confirming her participation in this tournament a few weeks ago.

She said, “After a 2024 season that I’m very proud of, I have decided to return to defend my title at the Credit One Charleston Open. Winning this event last year was an unforgettable moment, and the energy and love from the fans in Charleston made it even more special. I can’t wait to come back, play in front of that amazing crowd once more, and give it my all.” And her reaction after beating Montgomery quite comfortably in her first match?

In the post-match interview, Collins said, “I think it was pretty solid. Had a good mindset going into it and just continued working on the things that I’m working on and going after my shots. So it was pretty smooth sailing, I think, because of that mindset.” 

Overall, she is happy to set the tone early at the tournament, and she felt she was “timing the ball well” in this match and all she now wants is to “stick” to her “process” and build on the momentum from that. Can she defend her title this season in Charleston?

Well, although she admitted she doesn’t want to think too much about the past, she did mention, “I feel like it’s really exciting, I can definitely — you know, whatever happens, too, it’s like, well, I’ve already won the tournament. So I feel like I can actually go out and play more freely and more aggressively because it would just be a bonus to win it twice. It would be really hard to win it twice. So I just look at it as like a bonus.”

However, before she gets to that stage, she first needs to outclass a player who reached the final of this tournament as a teenager in 2017, and then two months later, she became the French Open champion. Who do you think will win this epic battle between Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko?