(August 27, 2024) No. 11 seed Danielle Collins had her final major tournament before retirement at the end of the year cut short – in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday when she let a set lead slip away in a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss to US countrywoman Caroline Dolehide.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) hd arranged to give a floral tribute to Collins at the end of the match but Collins ran off the court quickly to the locker room.
“I just would prefer to do something like that maybe in private,” Collins said. “But I feel like I’ve gotten enough attention to last a lifetime.
“I was kind of thinking of that movie, I think it was ‘Meet the Parents’ or ‘Meet the Fockers,’ where Gaylord has a shrine and all his 18th-place medals. I don’t want to be like Gaylord, so I think I’m good.”
“I’m still playing the rest of the year, or at least that’s the plan right now. You never know with life’s challenges and, you know, health stuff.
“We’ll see. But yeah, I was kind of just bummed I couldn’t play some of my best tennis. I was all over the place with my shots. I feel like my timing was a bit off, and stamina and this and that.
“You know, it’s to be expected. I went through a lot at Olympics with the heat stroke. I got really sick after. You know, I’m immunocompromised. I felt like that played a little bit of a role. I’ve just been really physically challenged the last couple of weeks even just with, you know, the time off, you know.
“So, yeah, I feel like I still haven’t physically, like, completely recovered. I mean, obviously I’ve got myself back to where I’m not having pain with the injury too.
“But, you know, it’s hard when you kind of have a lot of momentum going, and then you have a sudden stop and some things that come up health-wise. So it’s been, yeah, challenging.”
Collins is looking forward to the next chapter of her life.
“I definitely am,” she said. “Obviously I’ve talked a lot about wanting to have children and starting a family, and being excited about that, and just kind of stepping away from being in the spotlight.
“You know, I like, you know, the idea of not traveling 40 weeks out of the year. I think that kind of sounds good at this point in my career with all the travel that I’ve done, even though I have enjoyed it a lot.
“Yeah, I think a lot of us, we dedicate our whole lives to it, to the sport, to the travel, you give up a lot of life experiences, other life experiences for your career.
“You know, it was a sacrifice I think that paid off, and I’m happy that I did it. But yeah, looking forward to other things that I’ll get to be able to participate in, you know, that I haven’t.”
“I think everybody has been so encouraging, and, you know, it’s a compliment that people want to see me play more. You know, but at the same time, I’m just kind of ready for that next chapter.
“You know, the journey has been great.”
