American Danielle Collins loses the plot after Australian Open win

Danielle Collins has had a wild reaction towards the Australian Open crowd following her victory over Destanee Aiava in Melbourne.

It’s fair to say Danielle Collins won’t have the crowd on her side from this point on however long her run in this year’s Australian Open lasts.

The American produced a bizarre display during and particularly after her 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-2 victory over local hope Destanee Aiava in the second round on Thursday night.

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The 31-year-old had a variety of issues during the 2 hour, 25 minute contest, berating a courtside camera operator and later telling the crowd to “shut up” after a missed serve as the vocal home crowd got firmly under her skin.

The 10th seed then ensured she copped the full hatred of the majority of the crowd after sealing match point.

Blowing kisses, winking and repeatedly exclaiming “how about that” towards the crowd, Collins even kissed her hand and touched her butt in the direction of the stands after shaking the umpire’s hands.

Danielle Collins gives it to the crowd after her victory. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

She blew kisses and patted her butt towards the crowd. Photos: News Corp

“She’s giving it to the crowd, which won’t be taken too well in these parts,” commentator Dave Basheer said on Stan Sports.

“The brave run of Destanee Aiava comes to an end at the hands of the 2022 finalist here at Melbourne Park, Danielle Collins.”

Collins then took the microphone from the on-court interviewer as boos rained down on her.

“Yeah, I mean, Destanee,” she began, before changing tack. “You know I was thinking during the match, I was like ‘hmm, if I’m out here I may as well just take that big, fat pay cheque’.

“Coco (Vandeweghe) and I just love a five-star vacation, so part of that cheque is going to go towards that, so thank you guys.”

Vandeweghe, a former tennis player herself, was in Collins’ team box for the match.

Not surprisingly, there was a strong reaction to Collins’ display on social media.

Destanee Aiava quietly left the court after her defeat. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Tennis podcaster Myles David wrote on X: “Danielle Collins is an absolute MESS” along with a series of cry laughing emojis.

An account called @roheenaaah tweeted: “Why is Danielle Collins out here doing all that??? My entire body is tense with second hand embarrassment.”

Sports journalist Christian Montegan offered: “Danielle Collins gets booed after riling up the Aussie crowd. Oh my god.”

Sports fan Rob Scarcella called Collins “literally the female version of Nick Kyrgios.......What an absolute FLOG of a human being.”

An account titled Spicy Espresso wrote: “LMFAOOO danielle collins maybe win a slam before you act like a f**kwit after beating an Aussie qualifier who took a set off you. That was an embarrassing reaction.”

Nils Muller also pondered: “Is there someone who is more ‘Karen’ in the world of sports than her?”

She received a little support online, but not much, with Pavvy G declaring: “This is just brilliant Danielle! The “morally superior” Tennis fans and media are going to be absolutely seething with this!”

Sporty Fella added: “I have no issue with Danielle Collins giving it back to that heckling crowd lol. They were cheering all her unforced errors and double faults. They were even cheering 1st serve faults in between and messing up her rhythm because umpire had to stop them. She is one of one.”

Commentator Louise Pleming tried to offer some support for Collins, stating: “I think just the frustration of knowing she didn’t have a lot of support out here … she felt the world was against her.

“And of course she has not played a lot of matches since the US Open.”

Collins was knocked out in the first round of last year’s tournament at Flushing Meadow and had played just two matches since, first round defeats in Mexico and Adelaide, prior to this week’s run to the third round.

The Floridian actually announced at the start of the 2024 season that it would be her last on the WTA Tour, before reversing her retirement call last October.

She has spoken about her battles with endometriosis and her desire to start a family.

Collins ultimately enjoyed a hugely successful season, winning tournaments in Miami and Charleston and reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon.

A number of players, along with plenty of umpires, have had issues with some of the boisterous Australian crowds during this year’s tournament at Melbourne Park.

Few players have reacted like Collins, however, who initially berated a cameraman early in the match, apparently for filming her too low down in between games.

Collins with a more regulation reaction during her first-round win over Daria Snigur. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The situation then reached boiling point for Collins during her service game to start the second set, having won the opening set 7-4 in a tie-break.

After a man yelled out an extended “Destanee” right before Collins’ first serve down 15-30, there was then only a low muttering after she put the serve into the net.

It was a tame reaction by this year’s standards, but she didn’t take kindly to the noise, immediately shouting “shut up”, putting her left hand in the air and shaking her head.

The chair umpire then intervened, saying: “Thank you, ladies and gentleman. Thank you. Please show some respect to both players. Thank you.”

Aiava then pulled off a forehand volley winner to earn a 15-40 lead and went on to break serve.

“And after a tense situation where Collins was not happy about the volume in the stadium on her service action, that’s an important point for Destanee to convert,” Basheer said.

Collins (second from left) was part of the US side at this year’s United Cup, although she didn’t play. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Pleming added: “Yeah I think that’s fair as well from Danielle. Someone heckling there, it’s just not acceptable.”

Collins, who lost the 2022 Australian Open final to Ash Barty, then fought back to comfortably win the final set and progress to a match against compatriot Madison Keys.

Collins’ conduct after match point ensures there is likely to be hot crowd in attendance for that match.

“She’s never afraid of speaking her mind and obviously just feeling a little unloved in this match,” Pleming said.

“There’s no question about it because that’s the response.

“It’s tough for tennis players, you’re in the arena, you’re out there on your own and everyone responds a little bit differently.

“It was a gallant effort tonight Danielle Collins, she’s been through a lot. Never an easy one to fight the crowd.”

Originally published as American Danielle Collins loses the plot after Australian Open win