Tennis fans were left puzzled after Danielle Collins accused Iga Swiatek of being “insincere” following the drama that unfolded after their quarterfinal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This match marked the eighth encounter between the two players.
Swiatek, making her second appearance at the Olympic Games, advanced to the semifinals in Paris after Collins retired from their quarterfinal match during the deciding set, with the score at 6-1, 2-6, 4-1.
However, the match was not without its fair share of drama. In the second set, Collins hit a powerful backhand passing shot that caught Swiatek off guard, striking her in the stomach and causing her to kneel in pain.
After the match concluded and Collins retired due to an abdominal muscle injury, she approached Swiatek and appeared to exchange some words with her.
When asked about the exchange at the net, Danielle Collins revealed that she had told Iga Swiatek she didn’t need to be “insincere” about her injury. Collins also noted that people often appear different on camera compared to their true selves.
“I told Iga she didn’t have to be insincere about, you know, my injury. There’s a lot that happens on camera, and there are a lot of people with a ton of charisma and come out and are one way on camera and another way in the locker room,”
Collins told the media.
Collins further conveyed her strong dislike for “insincerity” and “fakeness” in others, emphasizing her preference for authenticity in interactions.
“And I just haven’t had the best experience, and I don’t really feel like anybody needs to be insincere. They can be the way that they are. I can accept that, and I don’t need the fakeness,”
she added
Tennis fans were stunned by Collins’ remarks about Swiatek’s insincerity. They quickly took to social media, voicing their surprise, confusion, and varied opinions on the incident.
One fan commented that Americans are “entitled,” referencing both Collins’ behavior and Emma Navarro’s opinion of Zheng Qinwen.
“Americans are so annoying and entitled, yesterday with [Emma] Navarro and today [Danielle] Collins,”
a fan posted.
Another fan believed that Collins’ complaints about Iga Swiatek’s reaction to her injury made her appear a “sore loser.”
“How can she be so shortsighted and a bad loser it looks. Everyone is different and Iga is always a class act and polite, that’s her nature. What she was supposed to do with her injury?” a fan wrote.
“My takeaway here is that she thinks iga has “a ton of charisma ,”
a fan posted.
Another fan believed that Collins’ complaints about Iga Swiatek’s reaction to her injury made her appear a “sore loser.”
“How can she be so shortsighted and a bad loser it looks. Everyone is different and Iga is always a class act and polite, that’s her nature. What she was supposed to do with her injury?”
a fan wrote.
“My takeaway here is that she thinks iga has “a ton of charisma ,”
a fan posted.
Team USA are locker room police this week,”
a fan wrote.
One fan questioned how the World No. 9 could accuse Swiatek of insincerity when she did not give the Pole the opportunity to offer her commiserations before walking away.
“How can you call someone insincere about the moment in which she approached Iga herself, said whatever she wanted to say and didn’t left any space for Iga to answer because she immediately walked away??” a fan posted.
Do all Americans expect all players to be overly friendly and chatty in the locker room for one of the most important sports events of the year???