Danielle Collins seemingly got fed up with retirement questions at one point following her Miami Open quarterfinal win as the American bluntly told reporters they probably wouldn’t be constantly seeking so much justification for her actions if she was a male player.
Collins, who turned 30 in December, out of the blue announced at the Australian Open that the 2024 season would be her last on the Tour. Since then, 2022 Australian Open runner-up Collins has appeared in five tournaments and questions related to her retirement are following her everywhere.
Since Collins is in the midst of an outstanding Miami run, many have become even more curious if there was a chance of her changing her mind and playing beyond 2024. After the American former world No. 7 crushed 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2 in the Miami quarterfinal, the 30-year-old was again asked a similar question.
“You know, I find it so interesting, because I kind of felt like when I was announcing my retirement, everyone has been so, like, congratulating me and so excited for me, but then on the other hand, I feel like I have had to justify my decision a lot. I feel like if I was a guy, I probably wouldn’t have to justify it that much,” Collins said.
Danielle Collins© Getty Images Sport – Michael Owens
Collins: I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease while trying to get pregnant
After a reporter tried to explain that his question wasn’t a gender-related thing, Collins indicated that still forcing her to go into detail about her decision could be uncomfortable. Then, the 30-year-old American shared that she is dealing with a chronic inflammatory disease, that is making it hard for her to conceive a baby.
“No, but I think it’s really interesting how in a lot of different situations I have had to kind of justify the reasons behind retirement. I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant, and so that’s, like, a deeply, like, personal situation. I’ve kind of explained that from time to time,” Collins explained.
“Yeah, I think it’s a good question, but I think at the end of the day, like, my choice, like, this is my personal choice. This is so much more to do than just tennis and my career.
“I’m enjoying my career. I’m having a lot of fun. I love coming out here and competing. But at the end of the day, like, this is a really big, like, life decision, and yeah, I think that that should be, like, pretty understandable, yeah.”
Danielle Collins© Getty Images Sport – Al Bello
Collins on her Miami form, facing Ekaterina Alexandrova next
In Miami, Collins is having her best run of the year. In the first round, Collins survived a scare as she came back from a set down to beat Bernarda Pera 3-6 6-1 6-1.
Since then, Collins has been absolutely outstanding and has won her last four matches in straight sets – Anastasia Potapova, Elina Avanesyan, Sorana Cirstea and Garcia.
Against former world No. 4, Collins was especially impressive. In what was expected to be a tight match, Collins sealed a win with a total of five lost games.
In the first set, Collins earned the first break of the match in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead and then served out to love for the opening set in the following game. Up by a set, Collins made sure to routinely get the job in two sets after breaking Garcia in the third and seventh games of the second set.
After the match, Collins acknowledged that she is in the zone and playing with full confidence in her game.
“Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of these sports psychology books and things that they talk about, like, high-level sports, they talk about being in the zone, almost feeling like you’re hitting beach balls, I think it can feel like that at times. That’s a good thing,” Collins said.
Danielle Collins© Getty Images Sport – Brennan Asplen
For a place in the Miami final, Collins will be battling against No. 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the round-of-16 before also beating fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinal. When Collins and 29-year-old Alexandrova meet, it will be the first time that they are playing against each other.
Going into the match, Collins has nothing but deep respect for the Russian.
“Against Alexandrova, she has had an incredible run and incredible couple of months. It’s been great to see how her game has evolved over the years, and the way that she’s been playing has been really exciting,” Collins said of facing Alexandrova.
It remains to be seen if Collins can beat Alexandrova and make her first Miami final in her tournament farewell.
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