Australian Open: Collins Silences Critics, Reaches Third Round

Danielle Collins shrugged off a hostile crowd to defeat Destanee Aiava 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 and advance to the Australian Open third round.

Danielle Collins, the 10th-seeded American, reveled in the hostile atmosphere at Melbourne's Kia Arena, blowing kisses at the booing crowd after defeating local favorite Destanee Aiava 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2. Collins' provocative celebration was a response to the intense scrutiny she faced from the Australian fans, who were eager to see Aiava advance.

The American player acknowledged that the crowd's behavior had actually motivated her to perform better, particularly during a challenging period in the middle of the match. Collins stated that the fans' intense desire for Aiava to win had fueled her own determination to succeed.

When asked about the crowd's behavior, Collins remained nonchalant, suggesting that the fans' attempts to intimidate her had fallen flat. "I think they really wanted her to win badly," Collins said. “I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves and were really excited.” Collins added that she was unfazed by the crowd's antics, stating, “All I have to say is good luck trying to get under the skin of somebody that really doesn't care.”

Danielle Collins, the 2022 Australian Open finalist, revealed that she had actually enjoyed the energetic atmosphere created by the partisan crowd. “I loved it. I've been doing this my whole life. I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they're on,” she said. Collins acknowledged that the crowd's motivation had driven her to perform better. “I'm somebody, too, it kind of just motivates me even more. So it's kind of a good thing, especially when I'm not playing that well.”

Collins will receive a significant paycheck of A$290,000 ($179,800.00) for advancing to the third round of the Grand Slam. When asked about her plans for the prize money, Collins quipped, “I'm going to be out here for two-and-a-half hours, putting up with all these people, I might as well just take the bigger paycheck, right? I was super happy to do that.” She also appreciated the irony of being financially rewarded by the fans who had been against her. “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is the people that don't like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills. It's kind of a cool concept,” she added.

Collins already knows how she will spend her prize money. “Me and my group of girlfriends love a five-star-vation. I can guarantee you that check is going to go towards our next five-star trip, hopefully to The Bahamas,” she said. Collins and her friends have a penchant for luxury, and they plan to indulge in their next vacation. “We like big boats, we like big boats, we like yachts. We'll post about it, let you guys know how it goes.”

Collins' victory has set up a third-round encounter with 19th-seeded compatriot Madison Keys. The two Americans have a long history, dating back to their junior days when they were 10-year-old penpals. “We go back really far, are good friends,” Collins said. “Yeah, it's pretty cool, pretty full-circle moment to go from 10-and-unders and 12-and-unders to playing on one of the biggest stages in the world.”