Cold Handshake: Danielle Collins’ tense moment with Iga Swiatek goes viral

Danielle Collins delivered a frosty handshake to Iga Swiatek during the United Cup final, reigniting tensions between the two players. The American had already stated in 2024 that she didn’t appreciate the “fakeness” of the five-time Grand Slam champion, making it clear that their relationship off the court is strained.

Team USA secured the title with two impressive singles wins. In the first, Coco Gauff defeated Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4, narrowing the head-to-head record to 3-11. The victory proved crucial as Taylor Fritz later sealed the championship by defeating Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4). This marked the USA's second consecutive United Cup title, leaving Poland as the runner-up for the second year in a row.

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Before the match, the tension was palpable, particularly from World No. 11 Danielle Collins, during her handshake with Swiatek. Cameras from the official broadcast captured the 31-year-old briefly and reluctantly shaking Swiatek’s hand before quickly looking away – a moment that drew attention on social media.

Collins’ attitude wasn’t entirely surprising, as she had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Swiatek’s behaviour and had shared a tense moment with her during the Olympics.

The Olympic Controversy

Back in July 2024, Collins and Swiatek faced off in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics in a heated match that ended with Collins retiring due to abdominal issues, with Swiatek leading 6-1, 2-6, 4-1.

After the match, Swiatek approached the net for the customary handshake, but Collins appeared to reject her and seemed to say something to the Polish player, visibly upset. Though microphones didn’t pick up the exchange, Collins later explained her frustration with the current World No. 2: “I told Iga she didn’t have to be insincere about my injury.”

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(VIDEO): Iga Swiatek's unusual handshake after Coco Gauff's thumping win in United Cup final

Following Collins’ second-set victory, Swiatek took an extended nine-minute toilet break. “There’s a lot that happens off-camera, and there are a lot of people with a ton of charisma who come out and act one way on camera and another way in the locker room,” 'Danimal' added.

“I just haven’t had the best experience, and I don’t really feel like anybody needs to be insincere. They can be the way they are. I can accept that, but I don’t need the fakeness,” Collins said during her post-match press conference.

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