Danielle Collins, a prominent figure in women’s tennis, is no stranger to the scrutiny and relentless criticism that women in sports endure. A mere few weeks ago, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva recounted a chilling episode from her past when, at the tender age of 14, she encountered extreme fan outrage, which included a gruesome threat from a stalker. This unsettling pattern, seen in incidents ranging from Emma Raducanu’s Dubai controversy to Collins’s own backlash at the Australian Open, is becoming increasingly clear.
Collins, currently ranked 14th in the world, is taking a stand against this pervasive issue. During this year’s Australian Open, she transformed the jeering Melbourne Park audience into her motivation, delivering a performance that electrified the city. Her match against Australian player Destanee Aiava was a spectacle to remember, featuring her signature moves such as blowing kisses, cupping her ear, and even humorously gesturing to her posterior after winning. She didn’t stop there, asserting that if she’s to endure such conditions, she might as well “take that big, fat paycheck.”
The American player’s journey didn’t end with the Australian Open. Despite the boos that welcomed her at Rod Laver Arena for her third-round match against Madison Keys, Collins remained unfazed. She even delivered a powerful response after her loss to the eventual champion: “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people who don’t like you and the people that hate you—they actually pay your bills.”
As she prepares for Indian Wells against fellow American Hailey Baptiste, Collins is shifting her focus. According to her, this fight is not just about her, but about every woman in sports who experiences constant hatred.
In an interview with tennis journalist David Kane, Collins, 31, asserted that female athletes face a unique set of challenges that their male counterparts do not. “I don’t think we’re in a society where it’s embraced for us to stick up for ourselves, or wear our hearts on our sleeves, or play with emotions. I still think that it’s frowned upon if we display feelings of being upset or having a moment of passion on the court,” she said.
Following her victory over Aiava at the Australian Open, Collins made headlines not just for her performance, but also for her unapologetic celebration. She used her earnings from the tournament to enjoy a luxurious vacation in the Bahamas, posting envy-inducing clips of her getaway at “Coral Sands Inn & Cottages” on Harbour Island on Instagram. Her caption? “This five-star vacay brought to you by @coralsands_harbourisland.” A clear message to her critics that she’s not just surviving the hate, but thriving despite it.
Collins continues to make waves as she recently launched her much-awaited tennis merchandise line, “Danielle Collins x richsport”, in partnership with woman-founded tennis accessories brand Richsport. She shared her excitement about the collaboration and her unapologetic approach to the game in an interview with Kane.
“I finally got to thinking about it like, ‘Yeah, let’s go! We’re doing this, and now’s the time. I’m somebody who likes to laugh at myself. I don’t take myself too seriously, but other people do! They look at a situation where I’m responding to poor behavior, and that gets treated worse than the offense itself,” Collins said.
Collins is set to play her first match since the Australian Open at the Indian Wells against Baptiste. As she continues to break barriers and challenge the status quo, fans and critics alike are left to wonder just how far she’ll go in the upcoming California desert tournament.