At the French Open, Collins knows she's expected: "I think a lot of attention is being paid to me."
Danielle Collins is enjoying an absolutely prodigious season. Although she announced that 2024 would be her last year on the professional circuit, the American is racking up one major result after another. Ranked 71st in the world in February, she is now 10th this week. After back-to-back titles in Miami and Charleston, she hasn't faltered so far. Beaten only by Sabalenka in Madrid and Rome, she even reached the final of the Strasbourg tournament (beaten by Keys) before arriving in Paris.
Having qualified for the second round following her victory over Dolehide (6-3, 6-4 in 1h25), Collins confided in a press conference about her new status: "I think a lot of attention is being paid to me because I'm retiring at the end of the year. But I'm making the most of these last few tournaments. [...] I think people forget that I only turned pro 6 or 7 years ago. There are much younger players with as much experience as me.
It takes time. Of course, there are a few, especially young players we know well, who arrive early and have great careers, but it takes time for players to find their place. Success doesn't just happen!"
On the tennis front, the 30-year-old will be back on court this Tuesday against Olga Danilovic, a player who gave her a great deal of trouble in Madrid (victory 4-6, 6-4, 7-6).
