Beyond the baseline, Danielle Collins carries a powerful secret weapon: Quincy, her cherished dog, affectionately known as ‘Mr. Q.’ More than just a pet, he’s her confidante, her good luck charm, and in her words, the true MVP behind her 2024 Miami Open victory. But her love for animals goes beyond just her own pets.

After her R32 win against Rebeka Masarova on Thursday, the “Danimal” shared an emotional story about another dog she found on the streets of Miami.

In her on-court interview she said, “The other night when we were leaving the stadium, we saw this dog curled up in the middle of the road. He got hit by a car. I was like, we have to pull over.. we took him out of the street.”

“He’s been in the hospital now for two days. We’re hoping to adopt him and take him home. Right now he’s in critical condition at the animal hospital. If everyone can say some prayers for my new pet.. his name is Crash, because he was in a car crash. Please guys, send good energy to my little baby.. that would be great.”

Collins has four dogs—Scout, Lola (Apple Pie), Harper, and Quincy. She has often spoken about how much comfort they bring to her and her family. “Yeah, I have one dog, and my parents have three dogs. They are so fun to be around. When I travel, we have to be away from each other for so long. My dog is Quincy and is a mix,” she said in a press conference.

Even during her training sessions, her dogs are never too far away. At Indian Wells, all four were by her side on the practice court. Now, Quincy is in Miami, continuing to bring her good fortune.

After her second-round victory over Sorana Cîrstea, the American tennis star made sure to give her furry friend a shoutout. She signed the camera with a simple message: “Hi Quincy.” In her press conference, she admitted, “Yeah, I have never made a final of a tournament having my dog here. That has had a positive impact, for sure. I’m learning that my weeks are better with Mr. Q.”

Collins is hoping to keep the magic going as she prepares for her toughest challenge yet—World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Danielle Collins to face World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling fourth-round clash

For Danielle Collins, Miami is more than just another tournament. It’s home. “I used to beg my dad to take me here, and he said, ‘You can go when you play in the tournament,’” she once said. Last year, she made that dream count by defeating Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in the final. Now, she’s back, determined to defend her title.

The 30-year-old began her title defense with a straight-sets 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Sorana Cîrstea. She then took on qualifier Rebeka Masarova in the third round, battling through a tough three-setter to extend her unbeaten run in Miami to nine matches. Aryna Sabalenka, on the other hand, has been in dominant form.

The top seed cruised past Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-0 before facing qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the third round. She claimed the opening set 6-1 before Ruse retired due to injury, securing her spot in the fourth round.

Collins and Sabalenka have an extensive history. They’ve met six times since 2018, and every time, the Belarusian has walked away with the win. The two will face off in the fourth round of the Miami Open 2025 on Monday, March 24. Collins has home-court advantage, but Sabalenka has history on her side. Will this be the match where Collins finally cracks the code? What do you think?