Danielle Collins‘ decision to retire at age 30 turned turtle. Shortly after confirming that she would draw the curtain on her career at the end of this season, her rich vein of form practically stormed the WTA. The American sensation rode a wave of success in the season’s first part, emerging victorious in Miami and Charleston. However, her form soon nosedived following a shock Paris Olympics exit. That’s the least of it. Now, the sudden change in her retirement plans has left the sporting world reeling.

Collins headlined in Paris for her apparent misconduct with Iga Swiatek – moments after she retired from the quarterfinals of the quadrennial event. While the American player’s last appearance came at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico, where she lost to Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki, she kept a low profile during the ongoing Asian hardcourt. However, the 30-year-old finally broke her silence on her retirement on Thursday, October 17.

Revealing her recent health battles and stressing the devastating aftermath of the Florida hurricanes, Collins noted that her retirement isn’t imminent and would go out on her terms by featuring in 2025:

“It’s been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida, and on top of it, I’ve been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges. but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought. So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025,” she wrote on her Instagram.

However, some fans, particularly Swiatek’s, did not find the update comforting.

Fans blast Danielle Collins’ retirement ‘U-turn’ following stressing episode with Iga Swiatek

Agitated with Danielle Collins‘ decision to backtrack, fans were quick to add that they “Can already see her (Collins) being unpleasant to all journos who asks her abt it”. Another user stressed a similar point: “Her being so obnoxious about it every time she was asked about it only for her to postpone her retirement”. Surprisingly, another fan made fun of her decision by rhetorically questioning: “Would it be considered insincere to get mad at everyone questioning if you’ll delay your retirement, only to then delay your retirement?”

It is worth noting that the former World No. 7 always got frustrated whenever she was asked if her retirement decision could wait. Constantly persuaded to justify her retirement plans, despite enjoying a stellar run, the American made it clear that she wanted to have a child – all because of endometriosis, a common fertility issue in women she suffers from. She also addressed concerns with the media’s incessant questions later during an interview with the Telegraph before commencing her Wimbledon run.

Another fan took shots at the American player by drawing parallels with Briton Andy Murray, whose overly long-drawn and hesitant retirement call finally saw the end of the tunnel this year. “This has ‘Andy Murray, I don’t want to retire’ vibes”. For those unaware, a plethora of injuries severely hampered the British star’s final stages of his career, including a torn ankle ligament and back surgery. After spending the season dreading retirement, the former World No. 1 hung his rackets after acknowledging that prolonging his career might damage his body and likely – taint his glorious legacy – much like the case with Collins as iterated by the user.

Perplexed by the surprise turn of events, another fan expressed their disgust at Collins’ heated exchange with Iga Swiatek in Paris, saying “It still makes me shudder when I think about it”. At the Games, Iga Swiatek was bewildered by her American rival’s comments after the latter retired 1-4 down in the contest’s decider due to an abdominal injury and later, accused the Polish No. 1 of being “insincere” about her injury.

Collins has been selected to represent the U.S. in the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain. Additionally, she is anticipated to join the U.S. team for the United Cup, a mixed team event that will take place in Perth and Sydney, Australia, from December 27 to January 5, 2025. The other members of the U.S. team for the United Cup include Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Desirae Krawczyk, Denis Kudla, and Robert Galloway. Looks like the story has certainly not reached its conclusion.