Danielle Collins’ campaign at the Internationaux de Strasbourg couldn’t be more amazing. It appears the American WTA star has made up her mind to clinch a deep run on the clay surface and get back in form ahead of the French Open. And her constant efforts are paying off well too.

She’s now reached the quarterfinal round of the event, and on Thursday, she will face a tough challenge in the form of another in-form player—Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya. The latter has also witnessed a resurgence after failing on most occasions this season. So, who will come out stronger in the upcoming battle? Let’s try to find out!

Danielle Collins v Anna Kalinskaya: Preview

In general, Danielle Collins’ 2025 season hasn’t gone down well. Back in January, she failed to move beyond R32 at the Adelaide International. Then, at the Australian Open, in the third round, compatriot Madison Keys ousted her. Her campaigns in Indian Wells and Miami didn’t yield desired results either. She crashed out in R32 and R16, respectively.

However, Collins finally witnessed a momentary surge in her form at the Charleston Open. She clinched a spot in the last eight before bowing out to Jessica Pegula (1-6, 6-3, 6-0). The Italian Open saw her make it to the Round of 16 before losing against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Entering Strasbourg, Collins started her campaign with a win over Sofia Kenin in a match that swung both ways before Collins won it. Kenin pushed the contest into a decider by snatching the second set. However, Collins fought back and eventually advanced into R16 where she beat British star Emma Raducanu to enter the quarterfinals.

Speaking of her opponent, Anna Kalinskaya’s 2025 season has been average, to say the least. In January, she failed to shine at the Brisbane International after crashing out in R32. A similar result followed in Adelaide, too. She was forced to withdraw from R32 against Belinda Bencic due to an undisclosed injury. Ill luck continued as she had to withdraw from the Australian Open—this time due to a virus. However, after coming back from the recovery phase, she looked solid at the Singapore Open, entering the semis before losing against America’s Ann Li.

However, her form took a dip again in subsequent events. At the Qatar Open, Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells, and Miami Open, she faced an early exit in R64, R64, R128, and R32. She bounced back in Charleston, making it to the QF round. Going into the Madrid Open and then the Italian Open, she struggled yet again while exiting in R32 and R64.

Kalinskaya started her Strasbourg campaign earlier this week with a hard-earned victory over American Caroline Dolehide. After winning the first set, the Russian lost the second one. Fortunately, she was able to make a strong return in the decider with a final score line of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. She then pulled off a huge upset in a battle with another American, Jessica Pegula. The World No.3 snatched the first set and was expected to wrap up the match in the second. But Kalinskaya had other plans. She came back convincingly and pushed the result into a decider. Eventually, she outperformed Pegula with a final score line of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and sealed her QF spot.

Collins v Kalinskaya: Head-to-Head

Both players have met twice across WTA events in their careers. So far, the H2H tally stands 2-0 in favor of Collins. When they faced each other the last time, it was two years ago during the ATX Open. Collins eventually emerged victorious back then against Kalinskaya.

• 2023 ATX Open QF: Collins 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
• 2023 Australian Open First Round: Collins 7-5, 5-7, 6-4

Prediction: Danielle Collins to win in three sets

Collins has competed at the Internationaux de Strasbourg twice. In 2018, she made her event debut but failed to create an impact. She was ousted early in R16. However, in her last appearance (2024), she made it to the summit clash. Unfortunately, she couldn’t lift the trophy following a defeat against compatriot Madison Keys. On the other hand, Kalinskaya has only played once in Strasbourg. Last season, she couldn’t move past R32 with a loss against China’s Xinyu Wang.

Coming to their playing styles, Collins is famous for her aggressive style on the court. Combine that with a strong kick-serve and an effective two-handed backhand. Plus, she can also hit incredible volleys at the net to add extra pressure on her rivals. When it comes to Kalinskaya, she relies a lot on heavy top spin and is known for her solid court coverage. Simply put, she can make swift adjustments between the net and the baseline. In her arsenal, she’s also got a powerful forehand and a dependable backhand.

Now taking into account the overall form this season and past results, Danielle Collins seems the likely winner in Thursday’s face-off. The American is expected to complete her hat-trick of wins against Kalinskaya. The latter may pose a threat, but the World No.46 is still expected to secure her semifinal spot in three sets.