When Barty revealed his opinion of Collins: "Every match against her has been a horrible, tiring confrontation."

Retired from the world of professional tennis since March 2022, Ashleigh Barty published a memoir entitled In My Dream Time that same year, in which she looked back on her career.

Since the controversy surrounding Danielle Collins's challenge this week at the Australian Open, an extract from this book has resurfaced in an article written by journalist Ben Rothenberg.

In the excerpt, Barty talks about her wish not to face the American in the 2022 final:

"Who I play will be decided the next day. Iga Swiatek is playing Danielle Collins, and for me the equation is simple. I love Iga and I have a difficult relationship with Danielle.

I want to play Iga. I want to share this moment with her. But Danielle wins, and I remember the matches we've had in the past and how they were never fun.

I never leave the court after a match with Danielle thinking it was great tennis. Every match was a horrible, tiring confrontation."