MELBOURNE, Australia — In her own version of perpetual motion, Danielle Collins quickly transitioned from losing at the Australian Open to becoming the world's top-ranked player and has announced that this season will be her last on the professional tennis tour.
The 30-year-old American entered a small interview room while Iga Swiatek was still undergoing his postgame on-court television interview.
“This will actually be the last season I compete,” she said shortly after. “I don't know exactly when, but this will be my last season, so I'm really looking forward to it.”
The 2022 Australian Open runner-up had just lost his fifth straight match against Swiatek after giving up a 4-1 lead in the third set, but ended up losing 6-4, 3- in a 3-hour, 14-minute match. They lost 6, 6-4. at Rod Laver Arena.
The transition of the conversation from the present to the future occurred immediately, answering the question: “Are all losses incurred equal?”
“At this point, I'm kind of at the end of my career, but to be honest, they're not that hard,” she said. “Obviously I’ve gotten to the point where they’re important and my career means a lot to me, but at the end of the day, you either win or you lose and that’s all that matters.”
Collins defeated Swiatek in the semifinals here two years ago, but lost to Australia's Ash Barty in the final. It's still a huge milestone.
Since then, Collins hasn't made it past the fourth round in a major. Bertie retired and had a child.
The second round match against Swiatek came after Collins defeated 2016 Australian Open champion and three-time major champion Angelique Kerber in the first round. Swiatek was coming off a win over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin. Sturdy bracket.
“Yeah, I lost 6-4 in the third round to one of the best players in the world, but she played great tennis,” Collins said of the match. I “left everything to the coat.”
Swiatek was surprised by Collins' announcement.
“We played so many close games. It was difficult, so I don't know if I'll miss it,” she said with a smile. “Certainly, she showed great tennis, really great passion and her determination. I know she's not done yet, but she's going to celebrate her entire career.”
Collins didn't have a traditional route to the elite tennis tour, playing college tennis at the University of Virginia and winning NCAA singles titles in 2014 and 2016.
Collins had never won a major before reaching the Australian Open semifinals in 2019. Her record included first-round losses at the 2014, 2016 and 2018 U.S. Opens, the 2018 French Open and Wimbledon. .
However, at Melbourne Park that year, she defeated Kerber, who was ranked second at the time, in the fourth round, beating three seeded players. She also reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2020 and reached the second week of the 2022 U.S. Open.
“This is a really tough sport,” Collins said, given the ups and downs of touring and traveling.
“There are other things I want to accomplish in life besides tennis, so I want to be able to do that,” she said. “It's clear that having children is a priority for me.”
