When the going gets tough, Danielle Collins gets tougher, but it’s not doing her any favors. In her second-round match at the Australian Open, the American pro defeated Australia’s last-standing WTA player, Destanee Aiava, in a three-set battle that ended 7-6, 4-6, 6-2. Throughout the match, she faced boos from the crowd. At one point, she blew kisses to her critics, embodying her no-nonsense personality and giving them a piece of her mind. But as you know, you can’t fight fire with fire.
Collins entered the tournament facing an uphill battle but turned the situation around dramatically. She clinched a nail-biting first set 7-6(4), but tension escalated as she faced jeers from the crowd. At one point, she told a spectator to “shut up” while serving. Things got complicated when she took a medical timeout for her foot, when her opponent was due to serve for the second set at 5-2 and ultimately lost it 4-6. However, Collins rallied in the third set, dominating Aiava 6-2 to secure a hard-fought victory in 2 hours and 25 minutes.
After her win, Collins playfully taunted the booing crowd, blowing kisses and exclaiming, “How about that?!” Not just that, but during her on-court interview, she seized the mic and cheekily declared, “I might as well take that big fat paycheck!”
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Reaching the third round earned Collins a whopping 290,000 Australian dollars ($180,000). Per BBC, she mentioned that she and Coco Vandeweghe planned to use part of her prize money for a luxurious “five-star trip”. She’s more than happy to upset crowds if it fills her pockets at the end of the day.
Having played professionally for nearly eight years, she noted this was one of the best parts of being an athlete. When asked if the boos propelled her forward or if she blocked them out to focus, she offered an intriguing response. She said, “I think a combination of both, I mean, I’m definitely somebody that needs to have a bit of a fire under my a** and I just feel like all of this just motivates me to do better, you know? It’s a pretty amazing feeling as an athlete because the people that dislike you or hate you, pay your bills.”
Having reached the finals of the 2022 Australian Open, Collins knows she still has it in her to cash out a few more checks before hanging up her racket. So far, she’s doing well, advancing to face fellow American Madison Keys in the next round. However, fans were less than pleased with her attitude toward the hostile crowd and didn’t hold back from sharing their thoughts on social media.
Fans get brutal in their opinion following Collins’ paycheck comment
One fan remarked, “Danielle Collins should rile up the crowd as much as she wants, but idk talking about taking a luxury vacation after beating someone who said this paycheque was life-changing is just gross.”
The reality is that many tennis players rely on their winnings to cover expenses, as Collins suggested. While she hasn’t commented on low pay, the WTA faces scrutiny for inadequate salaries. According to a 2023 report by X/formerly Twitter user, Jon Wertheim, the majority of WTA Top 20 proposed guaranteed salaries of $500,000 for the top 100, $200,000 for those ranked 101-175, and $100,000 for 176-250. Although Collins and her peers weren’t directly involved, they share the same financial challenges.
Criticism continued as another fan stated, “Very dumb behavior from Collins. It’s not only Australian fans who will hate her after this match. She needs to be prepared to go through hell in any stadium outside the USA 😖.” Another fan pointed out, “Crowd have been borderline this Aus Open, but boasting about taking the ‘bigger paycheck’ over an opponent without a clothing sponsor?”
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Sponsors are crucial for athletes, providing backup income when matches fail to. Collins played without a sponsor after her New Balance contract ended in 2021 and joined the Free People Movement in May 2024. Given her experience in the sport, one would expect her to be more mindful of her words.
One particularly harsh comment read, “No one will miss her…. She’s just another American bust…. Took her 3 to beat a qualifier… she just take that vacation, & she should make it a long one!!!” The sentiment was clear among fans, with another declaring, “The sooner she retires (again), the better.”
This referred to Collins’ earlier retirement announcement in January to focus on personal matters and starting a family. She returned in October after facing issues related to endometriosis that disrupted her pregnancy plans.
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Overall, the reaction highlighted growing discontent with Collins’ attitude and remarks, especially considering the emotional stakes for her Australian opponent. As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen how Collins will navigate the crowd’s hostility in future matches.