Danielle Collins suggests tennis needs 'banter' after Australian Open exit - 'Maybe it did rattle her'

It has been a memorable, at times controversial run at the Australian Open for Danielle Collins. The 31-year-old bowed out from Melbourne following a straight-sets defeat to compatriot Madison Keys, and it appeared that some of the crowd were not willing to forgive Collins following her actions after her second-round win over Aussie Destanee Aiava. Stream the Australian Open on discovery+.

Danielle Collins played down the recent controversy surrounding her "big fat pay cheque" comment after her Australian Open third-round defeat to Madison Keys.

The 31-year-old’s journey came to an end in Melbourne following a 6-4 6-4 defeat to her compatriot, and she experienced a hostile welcome as she entered the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

Collins sparked controversy following her second-round win over Australian Destanee Aiava, sarcastically blowing kisses at the crowd and doubling down on that in her comments to the media afterwards.

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Speaking about her reception on the court, she said: "I expected that, obviously. That's fine. Like I said, 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.

"I thought overall it was good. It got me fired up at times. It got us into the match and got both of us focused."

When asked if Australian crowds will hold a grudge against her in future years, she replied: "I guess that's up to them, right? At the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. The biggest thing is that nobody got hurt.

"Maybe some feelings got hurt or things were taken personally, and they probably shouldn't have been taken personally by the crowd.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I feel like people take life way too seriously sometimes. I think in our sport, it's like somebody was telling me that the average age of people watching and the fans of tennis is, like, 65.

"We need to kind of bring some entertainment to the game. I think we can try to make jokes and laugh."

Collins joked in her on-court interview about using her prize money to fund a luxury holiday with friends, and stressed she was unconcerned by the fallout which has followed since.

"I don't have a big ego when it comes to this," she explained.

"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. I'm just trying to enjoy my life and have fun with it. All my friends on tour thought I was. They knew I was just being me and trying to make humour of the situation.

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"Then I had a lot of my friends be, like, 'well, am I getting invited on the yacht (laughing)?' A lot of the girls on tour were, like, 'well, you're inviting me, right?'

"That's all that matters. At the end of the day, you can't please everybody. The most important thing is your friends and family and what they think.

"Nobody got hurt. That's the main thing. This is sports. I don't think the banter is necessarily a terrible thing."

‘It did rattle her’ – Courier

‘Maybe it rattled her a bit’ – Collins may have struggled with Melbourne boos, says Courier

Video credit: TNT Sports

Eurosport's Jim Courier believes the frosty welcome that Collins received on court may have played a role in her below-par display.

He said: "I was in the TV compound - not out on the court - and I could hear the boos wafting out of the stadium. It was something to see.

"I think she probably got a little bit of joy from it in a way because she does like the combat aspect of it, but I do think she came out of the gates a little slowly and maybe it did rattle her a little bit."

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