‘I Came From Nothing’ – Emotional Danielle Collins Pays the Ultimate Tribute to Her Parents Following Miami Glory

“A lot of Floridians as kids get to come here, but I didn’t because my dad was like, ‘You’re only going if you play the tournament.’” In 2018, Danielle Collins did just that for the first time. Now, a couple of months after announcing that 2024 would be her final season on tour, she got her fairytale ending in Miami. On her very last outing. How poetic is that? 

The saying goes, “Home is your first school.” For Danielle Collins, that school wasn’t adorned with polished floors and rows of desks but with the rhythmic whack of a tennis ball and the unwavering support of her parents. Coaching lessons from her father when she was eight years old, Collins defied the odds, rising from a place many – including herself – would call “nothing” to the pinnacle of tennis.

As Danielle Collins worked toward her ‘happy ever after,’ rooting for her were her parents

In her last Miami Open, Collins won 7-5, 6-3 over Elena Rybakina in the finals this past Saturday. With this feat, she became the lowest-ranked woman ever to win the tournament. After the match, the American star voiced how her parents’ constant support and getting her the “opportunities” she needed got her through major challenges in her life.

On the WTA Insider podcast, the host said, “When I think about Danielle Collins, I think of someone who is incredibly resilient, who has had a lot of adversity and has never let it stop her. [It’s been] an incredible decade of work. And it was never laid out for you. It was never handed to you.” Reflecting on her journey filled with resilience, Collins admitted, “That’s contributed so much to my perspective and outlook on my career in this journey of being a professional tennis player. I came from nothing.”

The 30-year-old demonstrated promise on the tennis court at a young age, prompting her parents to put their heart and soul into supporting her aspirations. Collins continued, “My parents did everything for me as a kid to give me an opportunity to have earned a college scholarship, and to have gone to school, and get to experience being at one of the best universities in the country.”

A standout high school player, Danielle Collins earned a scholarship to the University of Florida, where she played for a year, following which she transferred to the University of Virginia. There, she dominated college tennis, winning the NCAA singles titles in 2014 and 2016. Her exceptional performance was further recognized with the prestigious Honda Award for the nation’s top female tennis player in 2016.

She further explained how the college experience helped her come through various challenges in her life. From driving her around the city to get her the best resources to standing up against the boys who played against her daughter, Collins’ father shared a special bond with his daughter. In an interview earlier in the tournament, Collins revealed, “I think about it a lot with my dad. [He’s] 85 years old now. He used to get up with me at 5 in the morning, and we would go and practice. Who does that? It’s pretty amazing, especially at that age.”

Since bursting onto the scene after earning a college degree with a subsequent Masters one as well, Collins faced quite some hardship in terms of her health. In 2019, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. However, she continued to compete, only to undergo an emergency surgery for another condition in 2021: endometriosis.

After overcoming obstacle after obstacle, Collins emerged as a conqueror. She also described how the ups and downs of her life shaped her as a person.

Collins is “proud” of herself for weathering the storms all along

The 2024 Miami Open champion, Danielle Collins, has talked about her retirement after this season. However, looking back at her career, she explained how the obstacles and achievements in her life have made her proud of herself. “With all the accomplishments and the highs and lows, and being able to weather those storms and get through the challenging moments, I am definitely proud of myself as a person,” Collins said in the podcast.

She further described the importance of humility, which had a significant role to play in her career. “But I think the biggest thing that has taught me is humility, and I feel like that has contributed so much to my perspective and outlook on my career in this journey being a professional tennis player,” Collins said.

Danielle Collins’s narrative serves as a potent reminder of the value of family, tenacity, and endurance in overcoming hardship and attaining success.

Read more: ‘Tennis Is a Tough, Tough, Sport’- Danielle Collins Dishes Out Critical Life Lesson for Young Kids to Excel