The Australian Open was set ablaze by Danielle Collins’ spirited response to a hostile crowd, and none other than Novak Djokovic has come out in full support of the American star’s defiant actions. Collins, who faced relentless jeering during her second-round match against home favorite Destanee Aiava, turned the tables with a bold display of defiance that left fans—and critics—divided.
Collins’ fiery response to a disrespectful crowd
In a match where sections of the crowd loudly cheered her double faults and unforced errors, Collins showed no intention of taking the abuse quietly. After sealing a hard-fought 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 victory, the 31-year-old cupped her ears to the crowd and shouted, “Come on then!” in a move that electrified the atmosphere.
While she showed respect to Aiava at the net, Collins held nothing back during the on-court interview. Booed mercilessly, she grabbed the microphone and delivered a stinging retort:
“Thanks for paying for my paycheck. I’ll use it for a five-star vacation.”
Collins doubled down in a post-match ESPN interview, sarcastically thanking Australia for the financial boost and brushing off the crowd’s hostility during her press conference:
“I don’t care about how the crowd treated me.”
Djokovic backs Collins: “I loved it”
Novak Djokovic, no stranger to tense crowd interactions, was quick to express admiration for Collins’ handling of the situation. Speaking at his press conference, the 10-time Australian Open champion said:
“I loved her response. I loved it. Everything she said on the court, off the court, I loved it. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan.”
Djokovic also defended Collins from her critics, praising her composure under pressure:
“I’ve heard some comments from people that she shouldn’t have said this or that. I think she handled it really well. I don’t think I’d be that polite. She was funny, smart—just a big fan of what she did.”
The Serbian, who faced his own tense moments with fans during his third-round win against Tomas Machac, acknowledged how tough it can be to stay composed in such situations. His solidarity with Collins stems from their shared fiery personalities and experiences of dealing with hostile crowds.
Crowd backlash continues
Collins’ actions didn’t go unnoticed in her next match. When she faced childhood friend Madison Keys in the third round, the crowd once again greeted her with boos. Keys, a fan favorite, received overwhelming support throughout the contest, while Collins endured the cold shoulder.
The match ended in a 4-6, 4-6 defeat for Collins, bringing her Australian Open campaign to an end. Despite the loss, Collins’ unapologetic attitude has left a lasting impression on tennis fans and players alike.
What’s next for Collins?
Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up, hinted that she might make good on her “five-star vacation” plans after an eventful start to the season. While she departs Melbourne without a title, her fiery exchanges with the crowd and unwavering confidence have ensured her time at the tournament won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
As Djokovic put it:
“She brought humor, she brought personality. Tennis needs more of that.”
