NEW YORK — No. 11 Danielle Collins wasn’t eager about any sort of celebration after her Grand Slam singles profession got here to an finish Tuesday on the US Open.
Enjoying towards fellow American Caroline Dolehide within the first spherical at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 30-year-old Collins squandered an early lead and fell in three units, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Collins introduced in January that this could be her closing season on tour, and after the match match director Stacey Allaster appeared on court docket with flowers for Collins.
Nevertheless, a clearly dissatisfied Collins didn’t need to partake in an on-court presentation. As a substitute, she appeared to wave off Allaster and walked off court docket. Moments later, and nonetheless carrying her match garments, Collins defined to reporters throughout her postmatch information convention that she had beforehand declined such a chance when requested.
“I am nonetheless within the doubles, and I had requested to not have any presentation on the court docket,” Collins mentioned. “I am not anyone that likes to have a good time my accomplishments. I’ve struggled with feeling guilt, , round success, and that is one thing I’ve needed to work on.
“So I am not nice, truthfully, at having an all-about-me second. I simply … would favor to do one thing like that perhaps in non-public. However I really feel like I’ve gotten sufficient consideration to final a lifetime.”
She then in contrast it to a scene from the 2004 movie “Meet the Fockers.”
“I used to be form of considering of that film … the place , Gaylord has a shrine and all his 18th-place medals,” Collins mentioned with a smile. “I do not need to be like Gaylord, so I believe I am good.”
Collins, who was ranked as excessive as No. 7, shocked the tennis world when she revealed she could be retiring at season’s finish. The 2-time NCAA singles champion reached the ultimate of the 2022 Australian Open and has received 4 WTA titles in her profession, together with two — in Miami and Charleston — following her announcement this yr.
Regardless of many questions on whether or not she would rethink given the success she has had this season, Collins has been steadfast in her determination. She has cited her want to turn into a mom and her well being challenges on account of having endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In an interview with ESPN forward of the French Open in Could, Collins mentioned she was grateful to have the ability to make the choice about when her profession was ending.
“I am not anyone that likes to have a good time my accomplishments. I’ve struggled with feeling guilt, , round success, and that is one thing I’ve needed to work on. So I am not nice, truthfully, at having an all-about-me second. I simply … would favor to do one thing like that perhaps in non-public. However I really feel like I’ve gotten sufficient consideration to final a lifetime.”
Danielle Collins
“I need to exit actually enjoying on a excessive stage, and I need folks to recollect me for the tennis that I used to be enjoying,” Collins mentioned. “Some gamers are nearly pressured into retirement, as a consequence of an harm after which falling out of the highest 100, and that defines the tip of their profession. This has been actually empowering in the way in which that I have been in a position to make the choice to retire by myself phrases and have the power to decide on. I might select to proceed to play, however I am selecting to retire.”
Collins made her first Olympic group this yr and performed in Paris in singles and doubles. Throughout the Video games, nonetheless, she suffered a warmth stroke and strained her stomach. She missed the hard-court US Open tuneup occasions in Toronto and Cincinnati because of this and returned to competitors in Monterrey solely final week.
Collins mentioned she had “minimal preparation” forward of the US Open however did her greatest.
“Nobody out right here is resistant to having unhealthy days,” Collins mentioned. “I’ve bodily actually been by it for the reason that Olympics, so it has been a battle.”
Collins is slated to play within the doubles draw alongside Caroline Garcia, and the duo will face American pair Anna Rogers and Alana Smith within the first spherical.
Collins additionally mentioned she hopes to play the remainder of the season as deliberate however is not sure she’ll have the ability to.
“You by no means know with life’s challenges and, , well being stuff,” she mentioned. “We’ll see.”
