The Australian Open and drama? Now that’s a pairing as iconic as Federer and Wimbledon. This year’s edition hasn’t held back, delivering plenty of spice alongside the jaw-dropping tennis. From commentators throwing shade at players—calling them “overrated”—to stars clapping back at broadcasters for unprofessional remarks, and the ever-classic heated moments on the court, fans have been treated to a rollercoaster of emotions. And right at the heart of it all? Danielle Collins, who’s stirred up the tennis cauldron. Collins found herself in hot water after an intense showdown—not just with her opponent, but with the crowd. Now, adding her voice to the mix is none other than former pro-Andrea Petkovic. And guess what? She’s firmly Team Danimal.

The former German player engaged in an interaction with Rennae Stubbs on the sidelines of the ongoing Australian Open, for the latter’s The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. The duo deliberated on a wide range of topics including the controversies at the Australian Open. When quizzed about her take on what she feels about Collins’ gestures on the court, Petkovic vehemently sided with her sharing that such emotions are normal for players. 

Speaking in the interview, she said, “So my thought on it is everything in love and on the court is allowed. I think even the on-court interview for me because I have done a few of them now and I know the players come to you with full of emotions from the court. You get the shit. So, on the court, everything is allowed.” However, she expressed her disappointment with how Collins handled the entire scenario in the post-match presser.

“I am just disappointed that she continued with it in the press conference,” Petkovic added. She also highlighted that the entire controversy wouldn’t have flared as much as it did if Collins had remained stoic in the off-court interview. Reiterating her stance again, she shared, “If this is what you need to win a match, it’s all good in my cards. She got booed during the match, and that’s why I excuse that. I wish she would have handled it better in press afterward.” Remember, the entire saga started during Danimal’s second-round match against local star Destanee Aiava last Thursday. 

The American star was heavily booed by the crowd after she won the first set against Aiava. Collins responded to this by blowing kisses in the directions of fans which seemingly angered the crowd even more. The situation intensified even more after Collins won the match in three sets and engaged in the on-court interview. Known for her candid takes, Collins hit back at the crowd and said, “I was thinking during the match, I’m out of here, I might as well just take that big, fat paycheck. So thank you, guys, thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight!” Notably, she stood by her gestures in the press conference as well and shared similar sentiments. However, while Petkovic is siding with whatever she did on the court, she seems to be unhappy with Collins stretching it to her presser as well. 

Coming to Collins’s take on the entire matter, the star player soon opened up about it after the match and shared that such situations only fuel her performances. 

Danielle Collins depicts strength amid chaos

Danielle Collins’ feud with the crowd is not new. In March 2024, fans witnessed her sarcastically blowing a kiss to a hostile crowd in Miami. Her actions continued and a month later, she engaged in a series of outbursts during her campaign at the Madrid Open. “You come out in here and play, you do what I do, okay? Have a little more respect,” she lashed out at a heckler during her match against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian. But such situations only fuel her motivation as revealed by the player herself. 

Speaking in the press conference after the match, Collins said, “I loved it. I’ve been doing this my whole life, I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on. It just motivates me even more … I think it really helped me in the end.” Continuing further, she also expressed her preparedness to face more such situations in the future.

“Yeah, bring it on. I love it … All I have to say is seriously, good luck trying to get under the skin of somebody that really doesn’t care,” ‘Danimal’ added. Now, as she gears up for more tournaments this year, it will be crucial to see if more such incidents will draw the attention of the tennis community. Will Danimal keep her momentum intact amid such situations? Well, that remains to be seen.