Danielle Collins Booed by Australian Open Crowd After Loss to Madison Keys
MELBOURNE, Australia — Danielle Collins, often regarded as the newest “villain” in tennis, faced a hostile crowd during her third-round loss to fellow American Madison Keys at the Australian Open on Saturday night. The crowd’s jeers and boos echoed through Rod Laver Arena as Collins suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat, further adding to her controversial reputation.
The Build-Up: Tensions with the Australian Crowd
Collins had already made headlines during her second-round match against local player Destanee Aiava. After her hard-fought victory, Collins responded to heckles from the Australian crowd by blowing kisses, encouraging more noise, and even giving a cheeky gesture in their direction. Her post-match interview only fueled the fire when she joked about the big paycheck she would receive, saying, “I might as well take that big fat paycheck,” and mentioning her love for “five-star vacations” with her friend Coco Vandeweghe.
The remark left many in the crowd displeased, adding to the tense atmosphere around her subsequent matches.
A Hostile Reception in Round 3
As Collins and Keys entered the court on Saturday night, the crowd’s reaction was mixed, with Collins met by boos and cheers alike. The tension was palpable when Collins’ first serve resulted in a fault, which was followed by more jeers. A double fault from Collins was greeted with laughter and applause from the Australian crowd, contrasting sharply with the quiet reception to Keys’ own double fault.
The crowd continued to rile up as the match went on, with one fan mocking Collins during a later fault, prompting the chair umpire to issue a warning to the spectators.
The Match: Struggles on Court
Collins, who had reached the Australian Open final in 2022, struggled to gain momentum from the start. She was broken in the opening game of the first set, with Keys ultimately taking the set 6-4.
The second set began differently, as Collins found her rhythm and broke Keys in the second game, taking a 3-0 lead. However, Keys quickly regained control, breaking back and leveling the set. Collins then appeared to suffer from a knee injury, leading to her request for a medical timeout during the sixth game. Unfortunately for Collins, she lost an important break, with Keys seizing the advantage at 4-3 and never looking back.
When Keys secured match point, the crowd erupted in celebration. Meanwhile, Collins faced more boos as she exited the court.
Danielle Collins Reaction: Embracing the Hostility
Despite the negative reception, Collins maintained a calm and positive attitude in her post-match press conference. She admitted she was prepared for the crowd’s response, noting, “I expected that obviously. That’s fine. I really do enjoy playing in these types of environments. It’s what you work so hard for your entire life as a kid. I embraced it.”
Collins also acknowledged the energetic atmosphere helped fire her up at times, keeping both players focused and engaged in the match. When asked if she thought she could repair her relationship with the Australian crowd, she reflected on the week, saying, “At the end of the day whatever happens, happens. The biggest thing is that nobody got hurt. Maybe some feelings got hurt, but they probably shouldn’t have been taken personally.”
A Lighthearted Take on the Criticism
Collins made light of the criticism she’s faced, adding, “I think people take life way too seriously sometimes. In our sport, someone was telling me the average age of tennis fans is 65. We need to bring some entertainment to the game. I think we can try to make jokes and laugh.”
She concluded with a laid-back attitude, saying, “I don’t have a big ego when it comes to this. Honestly, I don’t care what’s written about me. I don’t care what some guy living in his basement is writing on the internet. You know what I mean? I’m just trying to have fun.”
Conclusion
Danielle Collins may have faced boos and jeers from the Australian Open crowd, but her unwavering confidence and playful attitude in the face of adversity have solidified her place as one of tennis’ most captivating personalities. Whether you love or hate her, Collins is undeniably a force to be reckoned with on and off the court, adding another layer of drama to the sport’s ever-evolving narrative.