By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Thursday, January 16, 2025
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Danielle Collins is a player who wears her heart on her sleeve, never shying away from expressing her emotions, both during matches and in her interactions off the court.
Her fighting spirit was on full display Wednesday night as the No. 10 seed squared off against Australia’s Destanee Aiava in a gripping second-round clash.
True to form, the crowd at Kia Arena rallied against Collins, showering her with jeers and boos during the arduous two-and-a-half hour encounter. However, the noise of disapproving fans didn’t deter her; she fought valiantly to secure a hard-fought victory, winning 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 and advancing to the third round. At the match’s conclusion, the 31-year-old, a former Australian Open finalist in 2022, humorously gestured toward the audience, holding her hand to her ear to encourage even louder reactions.
As the crowd’s discontent grew, she playfully blew kisses in their direction, embracing the moment.
Danielle Collins captured the crowd’s attention once again after her win!#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/nyusDgt3PP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
As she made her way to the bench, Collins playfully gave the crowd a humorous ‘kiss my butt’ gesture.
“The people who dislike you, the ones who heckle you—all of them actually contribute to your success. I know my career won’t last forever,” Collins remarked in her post-match press conference. “Every ticket sold to someone who comes here to boo me essentially funds the Danielle Collins Fund.”
This fiery competitor, affectionately known as “Danimal,” expressed her gratitude to the Aussie fans for igniting her passion during the match. Collins cheekily mentioned that her earnings from the third-round would likely go toward a lavish vacation with friends later this year.
Danielle Collins had a witty comeback for the crowd after her nail-biting win over Aiava:“During the match, I thought, while I’m here, I might as well enjoy that big fat paycheck.”
And the crowd is definitely making their presence felt.
pic.twitter.com/b3pxejPHkc— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
Collins graciously acknowledged Aiava’s exceptional performance, noting that she anticipated strong crowd opposition from the outset. Regardless of the support she receives, Collins channels it all into her fierce determination to succeed.
Collins humorously remarked, “The best part of being a pro athlete? The people who boo me pay my bills!”“Every single ticket sold to hecklers goes straight into the Danielle Collins Fund. Bring it on!” 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
“I thrived on it. Competing my entire life has prepared me for moments like these. I genuinely enjoy playing in front of energetic crowds, regardless of their loyalty. It fuels my drive,” she concluded.
Next up for the tenacious Collins is a showdown against fellow American Madison Keys in the upcoming round.
