American tennis star, Danielle Collins is an enigmatic and formidable figure in the women’s tennis circuit. The ‘Danimal‘ is one of the most relentless and passionate tennis players. Having undergone endometriosis surgery, suffering from the chronic rheumatoid arthritis condition and other injuries, she continues to pull off the most unfathomable winners to defeat top players of the WTA.
The American tennis icon has not been consistent with tours, but still is killing it at the Canadian Open 2023. After her qualifiers, she defeated the Ukrainian star, Elina Svitolina in straight sets and moved forward to the next round. When the American icon went up against the world number 8, Maria Sakkari in the following round, the stadium sizzled as the two players got into a heated dialogue.
Danielle Collins Maria Sakkari gets into heated verbal exchange on court
On 10th August, Danielle Collins played against the Greek rising star Maria Sakkari in the second round of the Canadian Open. After losing the first set, the Greek star might have started to get frustrated. This showed in the second set as soon as she got a fault call from the line umpire. Maria was seen to hit the ball to the ground in annoyance and as the ball ricocheted into the stands, she turned to apologize but Collins was not convinced.
The American star screamed, “Did you just see that? Did you just see what happened?”. Maria tried to justify her actions immediately but Collins interrupted her and said, “Shut your mouth!”
Tense moment at WTA 1000 Montreal tonight between Sakkari and Collins.
I agree with Collins here–the officials need to be way stricter on players recklessly smacking the ball and throwing racquets into the stands.
Should be no looking the other way when that happens. pic.twitter.com/fpsA6MSnm2
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 10, 2023
Following this heated argument, Maria Sakkari lost to the American icon Danielle Collins in straight sets.
Tennis is an elite sport that does not appreciate any kind of un-sportsman-like behavior. The code of conduct might seem too narrow for a sport as intense as tennis, but in the realm of professional tennis, they are well understood among the players. In this particular match, Collins got angry because she felt that the ball abuse- hitting the ball in frustration, is not accepted. The chair umpire did not address the ball abuse and when the Greek star tried to justify her actions, Maria lost it.
This particular instance did not hurt anyone. However, just last year, Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open for abusing the ball that flew and hit one of the line umpires. From what happened in this match, the question arises if the ball abuse need to have a major impact and hurt someone for it to be addressed.
Tennis community reacts to Danielle Collins Maria Sakkari heated moment
The reactions to this incident were so mixed and extreme. Tennis fans across the world shared their opinions on this particular issue on social media. Queries and comments about the rules and the players were flooded. The pundits pointed out that these are the rules of tennis and the fact that the ball flew into the stands should have made it a bigger issue, others thought that this particular issue should be made into that big a deal:
Yep, Collins is right, as right were Bouzkova and SST in the Miyu Kato incident. And what about the part “I framed the ball”, just like Mirra Andreeva's “I didn't throw the racquet”? Abuse of public credulity, warning 🙂
— Michelangelo Sottili 🏳️🌈 (@Michelangelo451) August 10, 2023
I wouldn’t have given a code violation for that.
I’d have spoken to the player at the change over.
— Richard Ings : Singer Songwriter (@ringsau) August 10, 2023
Fans also started to take sides and throw shade on the opponent as well!
I’m on team Dani, but smacking fault returns back at the server is provocative. And legal. More of this please! 💪🎾
— Kevin Moore (@Kevrmoore) August 10, 2023
The american player sounds like a bit of a itch.
— Scott Morgen (@ScottMorgen2) August 10, 2023
Collins went on to defeat Leylah Annie Fernandez in the next round. Danielle Collins will go against the world number 1 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. While other player’s would have been prepping non-stop before a match like this, the American icon pulls the most Danimal move ever and goes out to watch Barbie!
What are your thoughts on Collins’ unconventional actions? Do you think she will be able to take it to the preset world champion in the quarterfinal round?
