Australian Open: Danielle Collins Grateful for Tennis Distraction Amid Personal Struggles

Danielle Collins has made a surprise return to tennis, citing her love for the game and the support system on tour as key factors in her decision.

Danielle Collins is set to face Ukraine's Daria Snigur in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday. Collins, the 10th seed, has already represented the United States at the United Cup tournament in Sydney and Perth. Her best result at a major came in 2022 when she reached the final, ultimately losing to the now-retired Ash Barty.

Collins' decision to continue playing tennis was driven by her love for the game, rather than a desire to achieve unfinished business. For Collins, tennis serves as a welcome distraction from her personal struggles. “I have been doing this for seven, eight years. My closest friendships are a lot of the women on tour, a lot of the people on tour,” she said.

The support system that comes with being on tour has been invaluable for Collins, who has been dealing with personal challenges. “You think about that lifestyle change when you're going through something that's so challenging emotionally, and then to not have that support system, that's ... Yeah, it's a lot,” she explained. Collins is grateful to have the opportunity to continue playing and being part of the tennis community. “So I'm glad that I can keep doing this for a little bit longer,” she added.