Danielle Collins, a prominent figure in the world of tennis, has pledged to share some of her personalized merchandise with Novak Djokovic, the tennis ace who has openly expressed his support for her. Collins has made a name for herself not only for her prowess on the court but also for her outspoken stance on the financial aspects of the sport. Her recent comments at the Australian Open earlier this year have sparked a heated debate.
Following her exit from the Open, Collins faced backlash for stating that her fans’ support had funded her upcoming “five-star vacation” via the “big fat paycheck” she received from the tournament. This comment came in the wake of her ongoing dispute with Australian spectators throughout the event, which was triggered by her celebratory actions after defeating local favorite Destanee Aiava.
Unfazed by the controversy, Collins continues to make waves post-tournament with the unveiling of her new merchandise line in partnership with Richsport. The merchandise, revealed on social media, features an eye-catching bright orange t-shirt with the slogan: “Play Tennis, Cash Checks, Repeat.”
This merchandise has quickly become a de facto uniform for Team Collins, as evidenced by the numerous sightings of these t-shirts at Indian Wells this week. When asked about the new range, Collins stated she would gift Djokovic one of her t-shirts should they cross paths. She was quoted by tennis.com as saying, “I obviously made some bold statements and got a lot of conversation going around women’s tennis and just women being able to talk about money…”
She further elaborated on the design process, “We were able to play around with the design choices and messaging to come up with something that was really true to me and my personality. I haven’t seen Novak this tournament (Indian Wells) yet but I will definitely be gifting him some merch.”
Collins’ actions at the Australian Open had previously received public endorsement from Djokovic, who admitted to being a “big fan”. During a press conference, he praised her conduct both on and off the court, stating, “I loved her response. I loved everything she said on the court and off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it. I don’t think I would be that polite, but then I know exactly the feeling. So, I think she was funny, smart.”
Meanwhile, on the court, Collins has had a triumphant start at Indian Wells, staging a comeback to defeat Hailey Baptiste with scores of 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Her next challenge is a face-off with 23rd seed, Elina Svitolina, scheduled for 6pm (GMT) on Sunday.
