Danielle Collins beat qualifier Vera Zvonareva 6-1 6-4 in 78 minutes to reach the fourth round at the Miami Open in her third match since the final at the Australian Open.
Collins fired four aces and broke Zvonareva three times.
Collins has extended her lead over two-time Miami semifinalist Zvonareva.
Collins earned two breaks in the second and sixth games to win the first set 6-1. Zvonareva broke Collins in the sixth game of the second set before converting her fifth game point to take a 4-3 lead. Collins broke back with a backhand return in the sixth game and converted her third break point in the ninth game before serving out for the match.
“There was obviously an emotional moment for me. The pain that I am dealing with right now with this injury. Just trying to work through that, I think, is one of the hardest things we go through mentally when we are on court. Because when we have that physical pain, it distracts you from what you need to do, it holds you back in the big moments”, said Collins.
Collins will face the winner of match between Ons Jabeur and Kaia Kanepi.