4:6, 6:3, 4:6 – this is the result of the match between Danielle Collins (11th). WTA) and Iga Świątek (2nd WTA) in the second round of this year Australian Open. After the match, the American shared a unique confession with the fans. – At this point I'm already at the end of my career and honestly, failures don't hurt me that much. Ultimately, you either win or you lose and that's all you can do with it. This will be my last season. I'm really looking forward to it. I have other goals that I would like to achieve beyond tennis – commented Collins.
Additionally, the American woman had health problems – endometriosis, a disease that significantly makes it difficult to get pregnant. Ultimately, Collins' plans changed, as we found out in mid-October this year. “The 'DANIMAL' story is not over yet and I will be back on the world's courts in 2025. I hope to build on a great 2024 and continue playing until my pregnancy is resolved,” Collins said on social media.
What words from Collins towards Świątek. “It doesn't have to be dishonest”
In the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Paris, Collins faced Świątek. When the score was 6:1, 2:6, 4:1 for Świątek, Collins decided to cross. The American suffered from an abdominal muscle injury and also had sunstroke. However, there was more talk about her behavior and words to Świątek after the match. Collins called Iga “fake”. – I said it I'm goingthat she doesn't have to be dishonest about my injury. A lot of things happen in front of the cameras and there are a lot of people with great charisma who go in front of people and behave differently than in the locker room, she explained.
– I don't have very nice experiences here. I don't need insincerity. Let people behave as they feel, I don't need lies, added Collins. – Well… I never did anything unpleasant towards her. I just wanted to congratulate her on her successful career, as we know this is her last year. Honestly: I don't know what she meant. We didn't have any interactions that could have caused something like that, replied Świątek, who was then talking to journalists in the “mixed zone”.
Fans left no stone unturned on Collins. “What a load of bullshit, just apologize.”
Most recently, Collins she gave an interview to “The Athletic”, in which she returned to the situation from the match against Świątek at the Olympic Games. – I believe that what happened on the court then is very similar to various misunderstandings that sometimes occur between people at work. I think I could have approached it differently and done some things differently, but we had that moment on the court. Iga Świątek is not someone I pass often on the court. “She's very guarded in her group,” Collins replied. Her words indicate that she most likely gained some distance from the whole matter and reflected on it.
However, Internet users were merciless to Collins in the comments. “How can there be friction when only one person was involved”, “if she doesn't want to apologize then she should keep silent”, “sounds insincere”, “what a s*** truth, just apologize”, “it's so hard to say : I'm sorry”, “he'll say anything to whitewash himself, but he'll never apologize” – we read in the comments on the X website.
Now it is certain that there will be no clash between Collins and Świątek during the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup. Collins lost 2:6, 5:7 to Rebecca Sramkova (43rd WTA), and Slovakia eliminated the United States and advanced to the quarterfinals.