In a cruel twist of fate, Danielle Collins’ debut in the Olympics has hit a roadblock even before it started! The 30-year-old player is soon going to embark on her dream journey in the Olympics for the last time before her retirement, and it is perhaps not going to be a smooth ride. This is because lying in front of her is a potential danger in disguise, the World No. 1 player, Iga Swiatek.

Collins is ready to call it quits on her tennis career after this season. The announcement of her retirement was in itself a shock to us all, but as she moved forward in the tour, the American player put on her best game, winning matches with her aggressive style on-court and reigning over every tennis fan’s heart. Her surge to the top 10 players further underlined it as she conquered her dreams at the Miami Open and Charleston Open in a display of sheer hard work and talent.

Naturally, she comfortably secured her place in the Olympics this season, raising expectations among all of us. However, as the draw list for the Olympics comes to the surface, Danimal’s path to the podium seems like an even more daunting task. If Collins goes past the initial rounds, waiting for her in the quarterfinals will be Iga Swiatek. What makes it more challenging for Collins is that the Olympics will be played in the same place (Roland Garros) where Iga Swiatek won her fourth title (the French Open) a few weeks ago.

Can Collins conjure up a monumental upset to revive her Olympic goal? Well, if she fails to get past the quarterfinals, the American player will be leaving the ground without a bronze medal. Besides, of the seven times they have faced each other, the five time Grand Slam champion has established her power over the American six times!

Apart from that, the 23-year-old player has already won five titles this season so far with her remarkable display of skills. Therefore, her Olympics dreams certainly seem less blurry (according to statistics) as compared to Collins’. However, the Miami Open champion is determined to shine even amid the obstacles with her goal set on taking her country forward in the game.

Danielle Collins shares her take on the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” of playing in the Olympics

The Olympic stage is set and players all over the world are getting ready to dive into the most prestigious event of sports. Danielle Collins, who is now a member of the U.S. Olympic tennis team, is on a mission to make her country proud. Seeded at No. 8 at the Paris Olympics, Danimal is not going to leave any opportunity to make her mark on the red clay. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said earlier.

Furthermore, the American added, “And it is one of the highest honors you can receive as an athlete, playing for your country. I love being on a team, and it has always been a goal of mine to be an Olympian. So it really means a lot.” Collins also shared how she had to take care of some personal commitments soon after, coming from a round of 16 exit at Wimbledon.

However, as of now her focus is on winning a medal. But as Swiatek stands as a formidable opponent in the quarterfinals, we all know that we are going to see one of the most dramatic showdowns in tennis if both them clash at the Olympics.