Danielle Collins’ fiery on-court persona has softened. But this change reflects a deeper struggle, provoking her to make the huge decision of leaving tennis behind even after giving decades of her life to the sport. It’s none other than her sickness that has left her with no choice. But it has also reshaped her perspective on life.

Recently, Serena Williams former coach, Rennae Stubbs, who has witnessed the American journey from scratch, opened up about how Collins lost her “fire” when she started getting health problems, “hurting her in some way”.

Danielle Collins doesn’t want to be seen as the ‘brash American’

After struggling with sickness for around 4 to 5 years now, this year, after she announced her retirement, she won her first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open, becoming the lowest-ranked woman ever to win the tournament. But apart from that, it was her different on-court personality that left everyone in splits.

Recently, the 23-time Grand Slam Champion’s coach, Stubbs, in a recent podcast interview, revealed how sickness affected her personality, as she wanted to run from the false American demeanor.

She stated, “I feel like the sickness, issues with the surgery, with endometriosis, and then when I saw her play in the last few years, she didn’t had that same fire. I spoke to her about that, I think she realized that she didn’t want to be seen like that on the tennis court anymore.”

Subsequently, she clearly highlighted how the way Collins got into tennis, with all her college struggles, and everything was quite amazing, but after a certain point, things were not the same. “Or seen like this hothead, certain loud and brash American all that stuff that can come with Danielle Collins of five years ago, and I think she has sort of gotten calm on the court, I think it hurt her in some way.”

It won’t be wrong to say that the 2024 Miami Open version of the 30-year-old American, literally left tennis fans and players astonished with her tennis skills. Not only that, while the victory was quite emotional for her, Collins dwelled on how it was hard to hold on to herself, at every point of the tournament.

Collins revealed her wondering emotions during the finals

After soaring from No. 53 to just outside the Top 20 after the finals rankings, and making her place in U.S. Olympic contention, in a conversation, she openly talked about how the game was all about mental adjustment. She talked about her on-court personality during the final against Rybakina.

She stated, “I told myself, ‘Just keep those emotions in the locker room, and then we can go and be emotional a little bit later.’ “But it was hard to hold it in.” Subsequently, she also highlighted how she had to be a little bit open-minded and try to get creative with her shots, which helped her achieve the victory.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Collins’ on-court personality? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Read more: ‘WHAT DID SHE SAY’ – American Star Danielle Collins’ Shocking Retirement Hint Leaves Tennis Fans Bewildered