Collins wins second consecutive title at Charleston Open crushing Kasatkina in final.

Staff Reporter.

Danielle Collins’ rich form in what will be her final season continued as she beat Russia’s Daria Kasatkina 6-2 6-1 to win the Charleston Open.

Collins, 30, made it back-to-back tournament wins following last week’s Miami Open success.

The American, who has announced plans to retire at the end of this season, has now won 13 matches in a row.

“I’m blessed to be able to have the opportunity to live out my dream, I am so grateful,” said Collins.

Collins, who will move up to 15th in the world rankings, took 77 minutes to defeat Kasatkina, the 2017 Charleston winner.

The 2022 Australian Open runner-up announced in January that she would be retiring to focus on starting a family.

“I was going to stay that I’m going to miss you on the tour but after this match, I’m not sure,” Kasatkina, 26, joked following their match.

“Enjoy these moments, you are playing amazing,” she added.

Serena Williams was the last player to win Miami and Charleston in the same year, in 2013.

Only world number one Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, the world number four, have more wins than Collins’ 22 this season.

Meanwhile Ben Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe in the final of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Tiafoe was the defending champion but Shelton eventually overcame him in three sets.

Shelton won the first 7-5 but Tiafoe responded in the second. Soon he found opportunities to break and he brought himself back into the match, taking the second 6-4.

Shelton brought his booming serve to bear at the start of the deciding set and claimed a break in the fourth game to put himself in a commanding position.

He kept up that momentum and made sure of the final set 6-3. Overall he hit 11 aces and won 83 per cent of his first-serve points.

The 21-year-old Shelton became the youngest champion at the tournament since a 19-year-old Andy Roddick in 2002.