Danielle Collins has lengthy been one in all ladies’s tennis’ most fiery rivals. However after her tight second-round Australian Open win over Australian underdog Destanee Aiava, Collins confirmed she will carry it with the gang, too.
The Eleventh-seeded American introduced a hand to her ear to encourage the boos, blew kisses to the gang, yelled “how ’bout that!” and slapped her personal bottom after outlasting Aiava, the final Australian lady within the draw, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2.
And that was solely the start of issues.
Afterward, Collins had her regular post-match interview, and whereas issues began off calmly sufficient, the boos began raining down once more — as they’d a lot of the match as effectively — and Collins was up for it once more.
“I used to be pondering in the course of the match, I used to be like, ‘Hmm, if I am out right here, I would as effectively take that large fats paycheck,'” Collins mentioned. “Coco [Vandeweghe] and I really like … we love a superb five-star trip, so a part of that verify goes to go in direction of that, so thanks guys, thanks for popping out and supporting us tonight.”
She later repeated that sentiment — “Thanks for the paycheck, Australia.” — in a post-match interview with ESPN and poked extra enjoyable at upsetting the gang in her press convention.
Final yr, Collins — who made the Australian Open last in 2022 — introduced she would retire on the finish of the 2024 season, however she reneged on that call and is now into the third spherical, the place she’ll face fellow American Madison Keys.
