MIAMI (AFP) — When American Danielle Collins decided that this year was to be her final one on the WTA Tour, she set a simple goal but one which has eluded so many — to win one of the big prizes in the sport.

On Saturday, the 30-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, got her hands on that top trophy, pocketing her first WTA 1000 series title, with a straight sets win over world No. 4 Elena Rybakina.

It was an emotional victory for Collins, in front of a home state crowd at her last appearance in Miami as she finally got the high-level success that had eluded her.

"I have always wanted to win every tournament that I have signed up for, but because it was my last year, I was like, I really want to try to win a Masters 1000 this year. That's really important to me. That's something that I talked a lot about with everybody close to me," she said.

"I really wanted to make a push to be able to bring out my best tennis. I'm so glad that I have been able to figure out some of the physical things I have needed to do to kind of peak at the right time and to feel like I'm ready to go."

"I certainly did that this tournament, but it has been a goal, yeah. So I got to tick it off the list," she added with a grin.

Collins, who will rise from 53rd to 22nd in the world on Monday, is leaving at what now appears to be her peak in a move that is in keeping with a career which began differently to most on the women's tour.

While the vast majority of talented young players opt for the path of home-school and entering the pro ranks in their teenage years, Collins decided to complete her studies, earning a masters degree in sports management, and play college tennis for the University of Florida and the University of Virginia.

She won two national collegiate titles but did not turn pro until she was 22 and perhaps not surprisingly, her success has come later in her career with titles in 2021 in Palermo and San Jose and a run to the final at the 2022 Australian Open.

But the decision to make 2024 her final season certainly appears to have brought a shift in approach which has worked to great effect.