"I just say to those people ‘stay bothered’ cause I am me": Danielle Collins hits back at those offended by on court persona
WTA
Danielle
Collins won her 11th consecutive match and reached the semifinals of the 2024
Charleston Open. Just a week ago, the American claimed her first WTA 1000 title
at the Miami Open, and at 30 years old, she is experiencing the best streak of
her career.
The former
Australian Open finalist is now in the semifinals of a WTA 500 after defeating
several top-ranked opponents: Paula Badosa, Ons Jabeur, Sloane Stephens, and
Elise Mertens. In her bid for a spot in the final, her next challenge will be
against the 3rd seed Maria Sakkari.
Collins
previously confirmed that this is her final year as a professional, and she is
experiencing a career resurgence that will see her back in the top 20 as of
next Monday. The former world No. 7 has often faced criticism throughout her
career for her celebrations or excessive shouts, but Collins had a message for
her detractors, which she shared in an interview with Tennis Channel:
“I have so
many close friendships with these women on tour and many of them see the way I
compete on court and they understand because they are competitors, they know
that’s what I do on court. But when I come off the court I am a good person and
I am someone who is loyal to my friends, I am thoughtful and I think all of the
girls on tour really respect that because they get it.
Danielle Collins at 2024 Miami Open
“But it is
obviously the people outside tennis that can sometimes get offended by how I
compete and what I do because it is not … I think we still live in a world
where there are a lot of stereotypes and that is not really a political
statement, that is just the way it is.”
“For women,
you are expected to behave a certain way and sometimes when you have a big
personality and you are really competitive like I am and fiery, that can rub
people the wrong way.”
“I just say
to those people ‘stay bothered’ ’cause I am me, this is how it is and I am not
going to change for anybody.”
Collins
responded to the question about how she embraces this version of herself,
showing fierceness on the court despite the criticism: “There were definitely
times where I struggled. In today’s world with social media and all of the
things we deal with, we get more voices coming at us."
“It has
taken some work and obviously maturing to understand that, but I just try to
keep that in perspective, there are a lot of people out there that have their
own things that they are dealing with and sometimes not everyone is going to be
happy with your success and they are not going to be happy when you are doing
these ones [gestures fist pump] and getting fired up so you have to be
understanding of that …
“You are
going to have people that don’t support you, but you are going to have a lot of
people that do support you and you have to find that balance. I have had such a
strong fan base behind me my whole career and they have been ride or die. I
have had the same fan base from when I graduated from college and I see those
familiar faces throughout the year and it is just incredible.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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