Danielle Collins, the world No. 11 tennis player, lashed out at a group of unruly fans during her Round of 16 match at the Monterrey Open, expressing her frustration over their interruptions. Despite regaining her focus, Collins suffered a shocking loss to Erika Andreeva, her first defeat by a player ranked outside the top 20.
American tennis star Danielle Collins unleashed her frustration on a group of unruly fans during her Round of 16 match at the Monterrey Open on Wednesday, ultimately losing the match to Erika Andreeva.
American Tennis Star Danielle Collins Loses Her Cool At Unruly Fans, Suffers Surprise Defeat
"What in the world," Collins shouted, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I don't get it. It's not that hard to let us play tennis and be supportive."
According to reports, both Collins and Andreeva were subjected to interruptions from the same group of fans, but Collins' outburst appeared to silence them after that moment. However, it was not enough for the world No. 11 to regain her focus, and she suffered a shocking loss to Andreeva, who earned her first career win over a top 20 ranked player.
American Tennis Star Danielle Collins Loses Her Cool At Unruly Fans, Suffers Surprise Defeat
Collins, who was the top seed entering the tournament, lost the opening set to Andreeva 1-6. She rallied back to win the second set 6-3, but Andreeva secured her spot in the quarterfinal with a 6-3 win in the third set.
"Every time I play this [level] of opponent I try not to think about [their ranking], because it puts more pressure on me," Andreeva said after the match, via the WTA website. "Can I do it? And, I have to take all my opportunities I get. But this time I was like, OK, I just hit the yellow ball and I don't care who I play."
American Tennis Star Danielle Collins Loses Her Cool At Unruly Fans, Suffers Surprise Defeat
Collins, who is coming off a quarterfinals finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is set to retire at the end of this season. Her loss to Andreeva marks a disappointing end to her time in Monterrey.
Despite the setback, Collins has had a successful career, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2022 and winning the Silicon Valley Classic in 2021. She will undoubtedly be remembered for her fiery personality and her willingness to stand up for herself and her fellow players.
The incident at the Monterrey Open highlights the importance of respecting the players and the game of tennis. Fans have a right to cheer on their favorite players, but they must do so in a respectful manner without disrupting the match. Collins' outburst was a reminder that players need to be able to focus on their game without distractions.
It remains to be seen whether the unruly fans will face any consequences for their behavior. However, Collins' actions have sent a clear message that she will not tolerate disrespect from fans or anyone else.
