Danielle Collins shared some kind words about US Open champion and Paris Olympics teammate Coco Gauff.
The 30-year-old is currently in her final year on tour after announcing she will be retiring from tennis at the end of the season.
In 2024 Collins won her first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open, entered the top 10 and played at her first Olympic Games.
Now Danielle Collins is preparing to play at Flushing Meadows for the final time while her compatriot Coco Gauff is aiming to successfully defend the title.
What did Danielle Collins say about Coco Gauff?
Collins has a good relationship with her fellow American players, and especially with Gauff.
The World number 13 has known the US Open champion since her younger years and the pair’s bond grew while representing the United States at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Collins has watched Gauff grow from the 15-year-old that burst on the scene at Wimbledon in 2019 to becoming a Grand Slam champion and global superstar.
Speaking on the ‘Advantage Connors podcast, Charleston Open winner Collins praised Gauff and credited her support system for playing a key role in her success.
“You look at someone like Coco Gauff and her support system with her family and I think this is like her destiny,” Collins said.
“It’s her God given talent and it is what she is truly meant to be doing. Beyond tennis I think she stands for so much outside of the sport as well, which is really important.”
Danielle Collins shares a big difference between her and Coco Gauff
During her conversation with the eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors Collins elaborated on why she chose to play college tennis.
She played for the Florida Gators before transferring to the Virginia Cavaliers, where she produced a stellar record of 101 wins and just 20 defeats.
Collins said she was pleased she went down the college route before turning pro instead of becoming a professional at such a young age like Gauff.
She believes it would have taken a toll on her physically and mentally having that pressure at such a young age and would struggled to deal with it, unlike Gauff who has done an exceptional job of managing the pressure and expectation on her shoulders.
“I wasn’t quite developed enough physically or mentally to be able to endure the challenges which enabled me to mature and to grow,” Collins added. “As a professional it’s a hard lifestyle and I don’t think it’s for everyone.
“I think if I had turned pro at that early age I would have burned out because there are a lot of challenges I don’t think the general public really have any insight into. It’s a lot of pressure on these young kids. There are a lot of people who are cut out for it and do a phenomenal job.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
