“DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion”: Danielle Collins performs shock retirement U-turn

Danielle Collins will not retire at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals after all and will continue her tennis journey at least for now in a shock retirement U-turn.

The 30-year-old American announced her retirement earlier in the season and then produced the form of her career winning multiple titles and being heralded as a Grand Slam contender and one of the best in the world.

But she has since taken the decision to continue on the tour for now with clarity over her health linked to her fertility journey with Collins’ well documented battle with endometriosis which affects the stomach lining of the womb and saw the retirement decision taken in order to become a mother while she can. She admitted that it is going to take longer than expected to get the end result she wants so retirement has been postponed.

She has also spent the last few months injured and hasn’t been able to have a proper sendoff also spurning her chance for WTA Finals qualification in the process.

“Hi everyone, I’ve been a little MIA the last few weeks so I want to give everyone an update. It’s been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida, and on top of it I’ve been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges. While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into my next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned,” she wrote on Instagram.

“In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family.

“Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought. So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.

“While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.

“Thank you to all of my fans and the amazing people behind me that have been so encouraging during this time and also to my closest friends on tour that have been supporting me every step of the way.”