Danielle Collins announced in January that she would be retiring from tennis at the end of the year, however perhaps her time in tennis isn’t set to end completely.
America’s fiery star Danielle Collins has enjoyed a slightly upside-down career, with the majority of her success coming towards the twilight of her time in the sport.
After defeat in Melbourne to Iga Swiatek, Collins said that this would her last year on the WTA Tour.
Alongside a number of health complications, the American is shutting the door on her playing career with this year’s US Open her final chance to win a major.
Immediately after she broke the news, Collins went on a superb run winning her first WTA 1000 event in Miami, before clinching the title in Charleston.
She kicks off her US Open campaign against compatriot Caroline Dolehide with dreams of a run to the latter stages perfectly possible given the incredibly open draw.
Danielle Collins hints she could go into a surprising new role in tennis
Still just 30, Collins certainly took the scenic route in terms of reaching the top.
Ranked within the top 10, Collins is set to gain a number of points at the US Open having been pipped win the second round last year by Elise Mertens. Immediately however, Collins is looking to take some well deserved time off.
“The biggest thing for me now is settling into life at home and having some time to just relax and also build my family,” she told The Guardian.
Despite being known for her unapologetically fierce on-court persona, Collins is weighing up a shift into tennis coaching.
“I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to helping athletes that are aspiring to work their way up. Honestly, if I could work with any level of a tennis player, my favorite people to get out on court with are beginners. I am a very patient person, surprisingly.
You wouldn’t know that watching me play professional tennis, but I’m actually great at coaching that beginner stage. It’ll be interesting to see what I end up doing, but in the short term, it’ll just be enjoying tennis for what it is versus as a profession.”
Could Danielle Collins make a dart for the US Open title?
Collins’ recent positive fitness update remains the main talking point ahead of her first round match.
The American appears to have slightly lost the momentum that she gained during the first half of the year.
Part of this is due to the injury she suffered at the Olympics, but the 30-year-old will be eager to bounce back in time for one final dance in Flushing.
With Coco Gauff seemingly not in the best shape to defend her title, Collins may well be the American woman to lay US hopes on.
However, it all really depends on the status of Collins’ injury which will all become clear against Dolehide.
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