KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Danielle Collins was 6 years old when Venus Williams won Wimbledon for the first time, in 2000. Collins was just beginning to play tennis at the time, and for most of the next two decades Venus and her sister Serena Williams would provide inspiration for Collins, who is now one of the fastest-rising young Americans on the women’s tennis tour.
On Wednesday, in her home state, Collins will play the biggest professional match of her career, squaring off against Venus Williams in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open. It is yet another big step in an impressive year for Collins, who also won a tournament in Newport Beach, Calif.