“My dog knows who’s nice to me and who isn’t": Danielle Collins recalls funny locker room moment involving her dog Quincy in Miami

Danielle Collins, the 2024 Miami Open champion, is present at this year’s tournament in a different role, working as an analyst for Tennis Channel while taking a step back from full-time competition. The American is not competing in the 2026 edition and is instead using the opportunity to remain involved in the sport while managing her schedule and physical condition.

Collins’ last appearance at the Miami Open came in 2025, where she was unable to replicate her title run and exited early in the tournament. Her absence this year is therefore not linked to a title defence but rather reflects a broader decision to reduce her tournament load following an intense period on tour.

Her 2024 triumph remains the standout achievement of her career, having secured her first WTA 1000 title in Miami with a series of controlled performances. That run came during a season in which she also indicated that she was managing ongoing health challenges, including endometriosis, which has influenced her scheduling decisions in the last year.

The 32-year-old has made clear that her current pause is not necessarily definitive, with expectations that she will return to competition on a more selective basis. In the meantime, her presence on broadcast has provided insight into both her personality and her perspective on life on tour.

During her appearance on Tennis Channel, Collins reflected on her 2024 campaign, offering a lighter anecdote from that week that contrasted with the intensity of competition. The story centred on her dog Quincy and an incident in the locker room that had not previously been shared publicly.

“I was in the locker room after hours. You’re usually not allowed to bring your dog in the locker room, but I brought Quincy because no one was really in there. Quincy was running around, doing zoomies, getting really excited.”

The moment escalated quickly, turning into an unexpected situation involving another player’s locker, which Collins chose not to identify. “He decided to go right next to someone’s locker that I’m not a big fan of. I’m not going to mention the name of the player. I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus.”

Collins leaned into the humour of the moment, suggesting that her dog had an awareness of the situation, while maintaining her characteristic candid delivery. “Quincy knew the vibes. He knew the vibes were a little off.”

When asked whether the incident had been intentional, Collins dismissed the idea, framing it as a spontaneous moment rather than anything planned. “How would I possibly have trained that? I don’t know. But Quincy knew.”

She also clarified that she handled the situation appropriately, addressing the immediate concern while acknowledging that the story had remained private until now “I definitely cleaned it up. I’m not that kind of person. But yeah, I cleaned it up and this was never shared until now.”

The timing of the incident added another layer to the story, with Collins confirming that it took place during the same tournament she ultimately went on to win. That context reinforced the contrast between the off-court anecdote and her level on court throughout the week. “I did. It was the year that I won. It was right here. So just picture that—Quincy running around in the locker room after hours.”

She closed the story with a personal note, returning to the relationship with her dog while maintaining the same informal tone that has characterised her public appearances. “My dog knows who’s nice to me and who isn’t. So I better be careful.”

While Collins’ immediate future on the tour remains open, her presence in Miami continues to bridge the gap between competition and commentary. Her reflections, both analytical and personal, offer a perspective shaped by recent success, ongoing physical considerations, and a measured approach to the next phase of her career.