Fathers often serve as role models and support systems for their daughters, and Danielle Collins is no exception. While she typically maintains a professional demeanor, her match against Iga Swiatek at the Paris Olympics drew attention for reasons other than her performance. People call her cocky and arrogant, among other names, but she rarely paid any heed. In her words, “I don’t like to do that dance,” of pleasing the world. Collins attributes her father, Walter Collins, who raised her to be authentic and true to herself.

On August 23 Advantage Connors podcast, the host Jimmy Connors took Collins down the memory lane. Addressing himself as a “product of the public park court” and being taught by his mother(father in Collins’ case), Jimmy asked the Miami and Charleston Open champ to open up about her “unique” tennis upbringing. Remember the movie King Richard portrays the beginning of the Williams sisters playing tennis in the public courts? Collins too had a similar beginning in terms of courts.

Moreover, she didn’t play with some famous players or children her age. She played in the doubles league with people aged between 40 and 70 years old(pointing out at Jimmy, who’s 71 years). Collins said, “There was like some type of banter. And I think that’s where a lot of my fiery personality comes out is from, like just talking a lot of c**p in the park, you know, against older players.”

Reminiscing her father’s laugh at her exploits in the past, she said, “I remember my dad used to get would laugh at like these guys sometimes after I would beat them a few times, you know, in matches.”

The American tennis player further highlighted how all this banter is missing in “pro tennis”. With the kind of format that athletes go through, she believes they all have to keep it serious all the time. However, Collins is the one who likes this “style of tennis(sprinkled with banter)”.

The World No. 11, showed her tennis gift early in the age, as it wasn’t easy playing at the public parks. While she appreciated the kind of versatility that comes from playing against the older generation, she further said, “But I think you get a lot thrown at you when you’re playing against those types of players.”

This contributed immensely to her form of facing different play styles with ease. But it wasn’t an easy start as no one wants to be defeated by a 12-year-old. Hence, her father had to leverage various tricks out of his bag to keep the other side motivated.

When Danielle Collins’ father had to make a “good deal” to get her play against older players

Walter was a proud father of Danielle Collins since the start. He supported her passion for sports all the way, even if it meant spending a few dollars to get the public park guys to play with her. Or maybe he had trust in his daughter’s game, that she would come out victorious again. Whatever the case, he didn’t step back when it came to tennis, or showing her how to be herself.

At 12 years old, Collins was playing with older guys and sometimes, she would defeat a few. However, after a little fun, Walter’s focus was not on laughing, but on getting the guys ready for the next match. Collins further shared her father’s clever ways on the courts. “And he would say to them, it’s like, what are you afraid of losing to a 12-year-old again? Then he’d say, like, come on, why don’t you play her? And if you win this time, like, I’ll get you a six-pack of beer. Oh, that’s a good deal.”- she remarked.

It seems everything worked in Collins’ favor.  Be it her fiery personality, or her learning from the players at the public parks. And as she gets ready to climb the last summit of her career, the American tennis star would love to end her run in the circuit with a Grand Slam!