Danielle Collins, the 31-year-old American tennis player and two-time NCAA champion, found herself at the center of attention at the Australian Open, not just for her skills but also for her interaction with the crowd. Collins, who had originally retired due to health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, postponed her retirement at the end of 2024. She now heads into the next round, set to face a compatriot and the No. 10 seed, with a substantial paycheck of 290,000 Australian dollars ($180,000) for reaching the third round.
Throughout her match against Destanee Aiava, Collins was met with boos and jeers from the audience. Rather than letting it affect her performance, she embraced the role of the pantomime villain with enthusiasm. During her on-court interview, she continued to receive boos but responded by cupping her ear and blowing kisses towards the crowd. Collins remarked on the atmosphere, saying she "loved" playing in such a raucous environment and speculated that a "super drunk" crowd contributed to it.
“So thank you guys, thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight,” – Danielle Collins
Collins appeared to enjoy the tension, noting that it added a dynamic element to her match experience. She humorously commented on how the crowd’s reaction played into her financial motivations.
“It’s kind of a cool concept. My professional career is not going to last forever so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff (the crowd against her) they’re paying my bills.” – Danielle Collins
With the prize money she earned from reaching this stage of the tournament, Collins plans to indulge in one of her favorite pastimes: five-star vacations with her girlfriends. She shared her aspirations for their next getaway.
“Me and my group of girlfriends, we love a five-star vacation. I can guarantee you that check is going towards our next five-star trip, hopefully to the Bahamas.” – Danielle Collins
Her candid remarks about using part of her earnings for leisure activities underscored her ability to find levity amidst the competitive pressures of professional tennis.
“You know I was thinking during the match,” she said to the crowd, “I was like: ‘Hmm, if I’m out here I might as well just take that big fat paycheck. We love a five-star vacation, so part of that check is going towards that.” – Danielle Collins
Despite the less-than-warm reception from the crowd, Collins maintained focus and determination throughout the two-and-a-half-hour match. Her resilience was evident as she gained momentum towards the end, which she viewed as a personal victory.
“I was really happy in the end when I finally got momentum. I was like: ‘Well, if I’m going to be out here for two and a half hours, putting up with all these people, I might as well just take the bigger paycheck. I was super happy to do that.” – Danielle Collins
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