American tennis player Danielle Collins, who’s suffered from endometriosis, will not play in the upcoming Australian Open. So her absence from the entry list has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts. Collins, who made headlines earlier this year for her clash with Australian fans during a match, has been navigating a challenging period, including health issues related to endometriosis and fertility.
Collins had been a polarizing figure in Melbourne ever since her upset win against local favorite Destanee Aiava in January. In the process during the match, she incited the hatred of the home supporters, eventually earning the title of public enemy number one. Shortly after winning, Collins celebratorily turned to the Australian audience, saying: In all, she received her honorary doctorate with good humour and the self-proclaimed “big fat pay cheque” funding a future holiday.
Collins had a contentious relationship with the Australian crowd. In spite of this obstacle, she flew straight up to success at the 2022 Australian Open, taking place runner-up to Ash Barty. This year’s tournament will be different as her absence will be felt more than ever. She is now one of only two players in the top 100 women’s singles rankings not to have made the entry list. The other player is Ons Jabeur, who is presently on maternity leave. Further underlining the historic nature of this prospect is the absence of male player of note Holger Rune, ranked 15th overall, from the roster.
Collins has been vocal about her health challenges in recent months, and we’re hearing from her that she’s celebrating 2 months without a stroke. She’s been meeting with specialists to figure out how she can begin a family. She’s served in that role since 2021, and earlier this year announced her plans to retire after the 2024 season. After confronting her own personal health challenges, she reversed that call.
In speaking to her Australian fans about their favorite player, Collins reminisced on the unpopularity-inducing incident. She stated, “Maybe some feelings got hurt or things were taken personally, and they probably shouldn’t have been taken personally by the crowd.”
Moreover, she has maintained a resilient attitude toward public perception, declaring, “I don’t care what’s written about me. I don’t care what some guy living in his basement is writing on the internet.” This decisiveness speaks to her commitment to her own objectives over the judgment of others.
With the Australian Open around the corner, Collins is still sorting through her options, while navigating some persistent health issues. Her dismissal from one of tennis’s four grand slams shows how disadvantaged athletes are forced to be. These complexities permeate their work life and home life.
