Miami Open champion Danielle Collins has had enough. Frustrated with the tennis media’s refusal to acknowledge her physical problems, Collins feels she has given enough reasons for her retirement. Throughout her career, Collins has struggled with various health illnesses. But she has never let them come in her way of acquiring success on-court.

Be it rheumatoid arthritis or endometriosis, she has been going through a lot physically. Because of this, earlier this year, she declared her retirement after this season. But unhappy fans and followers have been pressing her about her decision since then. As a result, she has once again revealed her frustration with having to answer the same question “each week.”

Danielle Collins speaks out against the tennis world’s negligence of her physical struggles

The 30-year-old Collins declared during the Australian Open that this would be her last season because of endometriosis, a uterine condition. However, her admirers are still finding it very difficult to accept her decision. In a recent press conference, she was once again asked, “What role, if any, do you think your decision to retire at the end of the year has with how well you’re playing now?” Although she replied that she wanted to go out with a bang, Collins could not ignore the underlying significance of the question regarding her decision to retire.

Danielle Collins addressed the matter head-on, saying, “I’ve got the set of challenges that I have to deal with and have to be open-minded to that. It would be really foolish of me to, yeah, to not be open-minded to that.” Further addressing her frustration on the subject, she continued by saying, “So, that’s been hard. And I feel like I’ve had to answer that part of it each week, which has been a bit of a bummer.”

The fact that the tennis media disregarded Collins’ medical issues draws attention to a bigger problem in the game. It highlights that dramatic headlines or interesting stories frequently obscured the players’ personal troubles. Not only the media but a few days ago, former World No. 1 Chris Evert, although with good intentions, also asked the same question through an X post.

Also read: Exhausted Danielle Collins Confesses to Feeling Homesick as She Craves a Getaway From Tennis

Danielle Collins has previously stood up for herself during the semifinal match of the Miami Open, remaining strong through the constant questioning.

Collins’ vexation with having to “justify” her reasons for retiring

During her semi-final match at the Miami Open, Danielle Collins made it clear that the decision to retire was hers to take, with no explanation owed to anyone. “I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant. And so that’s a deeply personal situation. I’ve kind of explained that from time to time,” she explained.

She also questioned how it might not be happening if she were not a WTA but an ATP player, although that claim has been contested. Nevertheless, Danielle Collins’ bravery in calling attention to this negligence serves as a reminder that athletes are people with their own struggles and victories, not just competitors for mass entertainment.

Read more: ‘Missing My Baby a Lot’- ‘Sadness’ Mounts Danielle Collins as She Longs for Her Beloved ‘Companion’ Amidst Solo Travels