By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Thursday, January 16, 2025
Photograph credit score: Robert Prange/Getty
Danielle Collins shouldn’t be afraid to share how she actually feels, each on and off the tennis court docket.
And she or he’s not afraid of a struggle. Both in opposition to a decided opponent or a troublesome crowd.
That was the case Wednesday evening when the No. 10 seeded American confronted off in opposition to Australia’s Destanee Aiava within the second spherical.
As anticipated, the Aussie crowd was very a lot in opposition to Collins in the course of the contest. Collins endured jeers and boos from the group all through the very shut two and half hour battle.
But ultimately that didn’t cease Collins from clinching the 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 win to place herself within the third spherical. When the match ended, the 31-year outdated Collins, a former Australian Open finalist in 2022, held her hand to her left ear in jest to the Kia Enviornment crowd.
Because the jeers grew louder, she additionally blew kisses towards the followers.
Little little bit of prime “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan about Danielle Collins submit match!#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/nyusDgt3PP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
As she went to her chair, Collins then patted her butt in jest to the group suggesting a ‘kiss my butt” gesture.
“The folks that do not such as you, and the those that hate you, they really pay your payments. Clearly my skilled profession shouldn’t be going to final ceaselessly,” Collins stated in her post-match press convention. “Anybody who purchased a ticket to return out right here and heckle me, it is all going towards the Danielle Collins Fund.”
The girl nicknamed “Danimal” continued to thank Aussie followers for firing her up in her post-match presser. Collins added that her third-round paycheck will most likely go to pay for a 5-star trip along with her buddies later this 12 months.
Danielle Collins to the group after beating Aiava at Australian Open“Through the match I used to be like, whereas I’m out right here I would as effectively take that massive fats paycheck.”
The gang is booing.
It’s all occurring.
pic.twitter.com/b3pxejPHkc
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
Collins did give full credit score to Aiava for taking part in an amazing match and totally anticipated the group to be in opposition to her from the beginning. However, whether or not a crowd is for or in opposition to her, Collins all the time makes use of it to gasoline her need to win.
Danielle Collins says the most effective factor about being an expert athlete is that the those that hate her pay her payments:“Each person who purchased a ticket to return heckle me, it is all going in the direction of the Danielle Collins Fund. Carry it on.” 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
“I liked it. I have been doing this my entire life. I like enjoying (in entrance of) a crowd that has vitality, no matter which facet they’re on. It form of motivates me extra.”
The feisty Collins will subsequent face fellow American Madison Keys within the subsequent spherical.
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