US tennis star dubbed ‘most hated player in the sport’ after slapping her behind and taunting the crowd at the Australian Open.
Danielle Collins, a top-seeded American tennis player, has been labeled the “most hated player in the sport.”
Her on-court antics and post-match comments at the Australian Open have drawn criticism from fans and media alike.
What happened during the match
Collins faced Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava in a tense second-round match.
The game ended with a hard-fought victory for Collins, with scores of 7-6, 4-6, 6-2.
After the match, Collins celebrated in a way that outraged many. She cupped her hand to her ear, blew kisses to the crowd, and slapped her backside. The crowd, who had been supporting Aiava, reacted with loud boos.
Collins’ controversial remarks
In her on-court interview, Collins addressed the hostile crowd.
“While I’m out here, I might as well take that big fat paycheck,” she said, drawing more boos. She continued, “We love a five-star vacation, so a big part of that will go toward that.”
Collins thanked the crowd sarcastically, saying, “Thank you guys, thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight. Love you!”
Her comments didn’t stop there. In a later press conference, she doubled down on her remarks, stating:
“Every person that has bought a ticket and come out here to heckle me is paying my bills. It’s kind of a cool concept.”
She added, “My professional career won’t last forever, so I remind myself daily that they’re contributing to the Danielle Collins fund.”
Reactions from fans and media
Collins’ behavior sparked a wave of criticism online. Many fans accused her of lacking class and failing to respect her opponent and the home crowd.
One social media user commented, “Does Danielle Collins not realize she’s playing an Australian in Australia? What does she expect the crowd to do?”
One person said: Australian crowds well deserved, it’s a good lesson to them
A second wrote: It wasn’t just “booing.” Those were not real tennis fans.
While a third commented; It’s one thing to cheer for the person from your country, but what they did to her was completely disrespectful and clearly did nothing for the player they wanted to win.
Another added: Oh get over it. She should not be judged over such a small gesture
Somemone else added: Chalk it up to being immature when your ability fails to match your perception. She is a hack.
Destanee aiava’s perspective
Aiava, ranked world No. 165, openly discussed how the prize money from the tournament would help her career. She noted that the winnings would allow her to afford travel expenses and bring support staff to tournaments.
“Tennis is so expensive,” Aiava said. “The fact that I get to bring my fiancée and hopefully a family member to the big ones makes a world of difference.”
Her heartfelt remarks stood in stark contrast to Collins’ celebratory statements about yachts and luxury vacations.
What’s next for collins
Despite the controversy, Collins advanced to the third round of the Australian Open. She will face fellow American Madison Keys in her next match.
Whether the criticism will affect Collins’ performance or behavior remains to be seen. However, her actions have already left a lasting impression on this year’s tournament.