“Part of being a performer is playing with those emotions”: Danielle Collins discusses her emotional approach to tennis
WTA
Danielle
Collins spoke about her passionate style of play in an interview ahead of the
US Open. The world No. 11 will debut against Caroline Dolehide (No. 48) in what
will be her last appearance in a Grand Slam main draw, after announcing her
retirement at the end of the season in March this year.
The
30-year-old American found her best form in 2024, stringing together 14
consecutive wins and winning her first WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open,
followed by a victory at the WTA 500 Charleston. Collins began the year ranked
world No. 54 and has recently broken into the top-10, currently sitting 6th in
the Race, with a strong chance of qualifying for the WTA Finals for the first
time.
Collins talks authenticity and passion in tennis
The former
Australian Open finalist will be competing in her 28th Grand Slam main draw,
with a 39-27 record so far, and her best results coming at the Australian Open,
where she reached the final in 2022 and the semifinals in 2019. At the US Open,
she holds a 7-8 record, with her best result being a fourth-round appearance in
2022 (losing to Aryna Sabalenka).
Read also
‘Danimal’
was the latest guest this week on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, where she
talked about the beginnings of her career and opened up about her unique
personality on and off the court: “I’m an aggressive player and it’s just
aggressive all around, right?” she said.
“I feel
like people are very taken aback by the power and stuff,” Collins said. “Cause
it’s a lot, and sometimes it’s a lot for me to handle it. Sometimes I’m like,
‘wow, maybe if I slowed this down a bit, you know, I’d be able to think for a
second,’” she said, laughing.
The former
world No. 8 added how important it is for her to show her emotions to deliver
better performances on the court: “One of the things that so many non-athletes
don’t understand about performance, and I’m not even talking about sports
performance, like whatever it is you’re doing, I think part of being a good
performer is playing with passion and doing what you do with passion, and the
way you demonstrate passion is through outward emotion.”
“I just
really wear my heart on my sleeve and I think it’s really true to be authentic
to yourself. I know that for me to be successful, I have to play with that
emotion and that passion, it’s just my ‘persona,’ and I think that if I wasn’t
playing tennis, I feel like I’d be the same way. Part of being a performer is
playing with those emotions and going out there and not being afraid to be
authentic.”
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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