Danielle Collins' controversial past actions are coming back into the spotlight after the barrage of criticism she is receiving for her antics at the Australian Open on Thursday.
Collins' post-match discussion with world No.2 player Iga Swiatek from the Paris Olympics resurfaced, showing the 31-year-old has been outspoken outside Melbourne.
After a quarterfinal match last August, where Collins retired in the third set due to an abdominal injury, he criticized Swiatek for not being “honest” about his injury when they spoke on court after the match, he said.
“A lot of things happen in front of the camera. And there are a lot of people with a lot of charisma… (who) are one way on camera and another in the locker room,” Collins told reporters later, via AP. “I don't need falsehood.”
Collins said the injury was due to cramps and dehydration and that he “almost collapsed” after walking off the court following the previous game.
Swiatek did not understand with the Polish press why Collins had a problem with her.
Footage of Danielle Collins' on-court argument with Swiatek from the Olympics has resurfaced
The American star boasted of claiming a 'big payday' upon reaching the third round.
Today, Collins cupped her ear, blew kisses to the crowd and slapped her butt after a three-set victory over Destanee Aiava.
“During the game I thought, 'As long as I'm here, I might as well take that big paycheck,'” Collins said as she was booed in her on-court interview. “We love five-star vacations, so a big chunk of that will go toward that.”
'So thank you guys, thank you for coming here and supporting us tonight. Thanks guys, I love you.”
Collins initially said the 2024 tennis season would be his last, before enjoying unprecedented overall success.
Beyond making Team USA, she won 15 matches in a row at one point and claimed her first WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open in her hometown. Collins also achieved a personal best, a fourth round performance at Wimbledon.
No. 10-ranked Collins returns to the Australian hard court in the United States in the early hours of Saturday morning against fellow American Madison Keys.
It could be a home field advantage for Keys, despite being on the other side of the world considering his competition.