“Baffled By That”: Danielle Collins Slams Reporter Over COVID-19 Questions at French Open 2020

Life in the French Open bubble is hard. Players have to abide by several restrictions that are in place due to the severity of the pandemic. At times it might feel comforting to the athletes when reporters ask them questions that exceed tennis boundaries. However, 26-year-old Danielle Collins was in no mood to answer non-sport-related queries after her tiring R16 victory against Ons Jabeur.

After winning a tough match, Collins stayed behind for the mandatory press-conference. The media directed a number of non-tennis questions at Collins which infuriated the American. She felt like she needed to address the point of why they were all assembled. 

Danielle Collins strictly refused to comment on any matter that wasn’t related to her game at French Open 2020. She was asked about the alarming rise of cases in Paris and here’s what she said: “I’m not going to comment any further on anything going on in terms of the bubble or COVID protocols or what’s going on in Paris.”

Collins reasoned that their games bring “positivity” into people’s lives, and that it should be given priority in the pressers. Moreover, she mentioned that questions off-topic are just “frivolous” and contain no serious weightage to it. 

Danielle Collins hardly got any questions about her hard-fought victory and this astonished her. The American has entered her first-ever grand slam quarterfinal by winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and halting the historic run of Ons Jabeur. She pointed out at a couple of reporters who failed to ask her any kind of in-game questions and said: “I’m just a little baffled by that.” 

Why is Danielle Collins refusing to address questions about the bubble or the COVID situation?

The French Open bubble has received a lot of criticism. Players voiced out that it is affecting their mental sanity and so on. Moreover, the cases in Paris are increasing at a disturbing rate. These factors urged the reporters to seek Collins’ opinion, but she is unwilling.

Danielle Collins mentioned that she is just focused on “going out and competing.” Moreover, the former Australian Open semi-finalist put forth how the bubble life is sparing her no quality time. 

“Even though we’re in a pandemic and there is more restrictions, there’s limited activity that you can do at the site, in the hotel, and obviously not being able to leave the bubble, I’m so consumed with my day-to-day,” Collins mentioned. 

“I would love to talk more in-depth about the things I have been doing, but that’s all I got for you,” she said. “I don’t know what else to say.” 

Danielle Collins sure made her feelings known about addressing topics that aren’t related to tennis. She has just booked her first-ever appearance in a grand slam’s last eight. The overwhelmed American will meet her compatriot Sofia Kenin in the next sound.