Danielle Collins has soared to stardom in recent years, but 2024 has been like no other for the 30-year-old.
Having doubled her singles titles already and reached the world number 15 spot, the fact that she has a mere 40 points to defend at Roland Garros means that she is certain to climb even higher.
Given the form she is enjoying, she would not even be ridiculed if she outlined her intentions to win the entire competition, having already achieved so many firsts in this sensational final year on tour.
But what makes Collins so well-liked, aside from her blistering brand of tennis akin to Andre Agassi, is her personality.
That shone through wonderfully in yesterday’s win over Victoria Azarenka.
Danielle Collins reacts to fan provocation
Having taken the first set 4-6, the American tennis star was in control.
She was just one more set away from another Masters 1000 semi-final, having already tasted great success at this level for the first time in her career back in March as she won the Miami Open.
But Rome is a completely different beast, with the clay courts a tricky surface for most players to contend with.
But, at this moment in time, nothing seems to be slowing Collins down. Not even flagrant provocation by one fan either.
Seeking to make the scores 30-30 in the first game of the second set, she forced her opponent to float a desperate shot up towards the net. She raced forward, and whilst the ball did not make it over and onto her side of the court, one fan saw fit to let out a screeching whistle as she prepared to strike the ball.
The point was already hers, but she raised her arms afterwards, seemingly asking for more from whoever had tried putting her off. ‘Come on,’ she appeared to exclaim, a smile plastered across her face.
Nothing phases her, and why should it given the form she is in?
Danielle Collins is 100% unapologetic when on court
It is this kind of behaviour which has made Collins so revered throughout this year, with her fine form just a vessel for projecting these antics onto the bigger stage.
After all, in the years leading up to this, her final one on tour before retiring, she had not enjoyed such media attention. Not even when she became the US number one in 2022 did she garner such acclaim, despite also reaching the final of the Australian Open that year too.
Collins is unafraid to be herself when on court, and therefore remains unapologetic should she cut a particularly animated figure.
She has already told Andy Roddick where this stems from within her upbringing, and that is abundantly clear in her tennis.
Only now are we being treated to it so often because she just keeps winning. Hopefully, with a few more titles to come before she does retire, we get to see Collins continue to showcase her hilarious personality with moments like this.
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