Danielle Collins, the 30-year-old American tennis player, is in her final season of professional tennis. Iga Swiatek defeated her 6-1, 2-6, 4-1 in their quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, July 31, after Collins withdrew due to dehydration and cramps.
Prior to her withdrawal, one of Collins’ shots struck Swiatek in the midsection, causing her to lie down on the court momentarily. This incident sparked tension between the two players, which was further aggravated by their lengthy exchange of words at the net after Collins’ withdrawal.
What did Danielle Collins do after the match was over?
Collins had a lengthy speech prepared for Swiatek when they shook hands at the net. She later addressed the media regarding this interaction, stating:
“I told Iga she didn’t have to be insincere about 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. They can be the way that they are, I can accept that, and I don’t need the fakeness.”
These are strong words from a tennis player for a fellow professional and quite uncalled for.
Is the American’s behavior justified?
Collins had a previous altercation with Maria Sakkari, highlighting her occasional difficulty in interpersonal dealings. Her behavior towards Swiatek might have stemmed from her frustration due to physical discomfort.
However, this does not justify her conduct, which was unprofessional. Speaking candidly to the media has become fashionable, as seen with Frances Tiafoe’s post-match comments at Wimbledon, where he called some fellow professionals “clowns,” sparking a social media uproar.
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