‘She’s a Fire Sign’ – Danielle Collins’ Brave Response to Bothersome Italian Open Crowd Leaves Fans Amazed

The Italian Open crowd revoked Danielle Collins ‘Danimal’ spirit! The Miami Open champion is on her last tour, as she is all set to retire by the end of this year. Not only is she just enjoying her game, but at the same time, she is not letting anyone mess with her on the court. During the quarter-final battle, the 15th-ranked tennis player countered an annoying fan in her own style, leaving tennis fans adoring her aggressive front on the court. Before she unleashed on crowd, “DanYELL” gave cameraman a telling-off.

Needing a comeback after dropping the third set to Victoria Azarenka, Danielle Collins headed to the sideline for a brief break. However, she found herself addressing the cameraman’s proximity. With a polite request, “Hey dude, you’re gonna have to back up a little bit,” she asked for more space, and the cameraman adjusted their position to allow Collins to focus on her strategy.

In the same set, with a comfortable 5-3 lead, Danielle Collins faced a first-serve challenge. As she prepared for a second serve, a comment from the crowd appeared to spark a brief exchange. Collins acknowledged the remark with a quick “What? What?” before focusing back on the point.

Moreover, a spirited exchange occurred at the start of the second set when a fan let out a whistle. Danielle Collins, ever the competitor, acknowledged the disruption with a wave and a touch of playful sarcasm. However, she had to contend with a boisterous Rome crowd, but she boldly celebrated her 6-4, 6-3 win against the former world no. 1 Victoria Azarenka, seeming unaffected by the tumultuous environment.

Similarly, in the heat of the match at the Madrid Open, during a clash, one very vocal fan decided to incite Collins with his remarks. Collins was on the verge of losing it as she got ready for the second act when a rowdy person in the audience sent her over the brink. She emphatically challenged them, exclaiming, “You come out here and play. You do what I do. Okay, have a little more respect.” However, a lot of tennis fans came forward to talk about her recent interaction with a spectator during the Italian Open quarter-final.

Danielle Collins leaves tennis fans with mixed emotions

Danielle Collins, announcing her retirement for 2024, has gone on a tear. She dominated the Miami Open (WTA 1000) for her biggest title, then followed with back-to-back wins at the Charleston Open (WTA 500) – a feat not seen since Serena Williams in 2013. Earning the nickname “Danimal” for her aggressive play (and her dog!), she’s a fan favorite. Owing to Collins recent QFs altercation, some creatively enthusiastic supporters have proposed “DanYELL” as an alternative. While another called her a “mother”. “She is a fkn mother”, they wrote.

“I’m going out with a bang,” Collins said post her entry in the Semis. “I want to go out playing my best tennis because I certainly wouldn’t want to go out playing my worst tennis. That does happen sometimes, unfortunately. It’s important for me to feel like I got everything I could out of myself as an athlete.” A fan screamed over her retirement and wrote, “I’m gonna miss her on court.! Why is she retiring…”

Danimal’s refreshingly honest. Unlike some players who seem guarded, Collins wears her emotions on her sleeve and doesn’t shy away from expressing her thoughts, even if they’re unfiltered. Pointing towards the same, a fan said, “She’s so relatable in a way that she just says anything she thinks at the moment.” 

A fan came forward and interpreted his image of the 30-year-old tennis player. He wrote, “you can tell she’s a fire sign.” Florida’s Danielle Collins has indeed been on fire! Since claiming her first WTA 1000 title at the Miami Open, she’s amassed a staggering 19 wins from 20 matches. This includes a dominant green-clay title run at the Credit One Charleston Open, extending her streak to 15 victories before falling to World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a close Madrid Open encounter.

Frustrations boiled over for Sofia Kenin during her Italian Open first-round match against Lucia Bronzetti. Following a dispute with the umpire regarding playing conditions, Kenin faced boos from the crowd upon play resuming. She responded with a heated exchange directed towards the spectators. Loving the resonance in both these incidents, a fan commented, “Love her feistiness. Loved Kenin getting agro last week too”.

Known for her fiery demeanor on the court, it won’t be wrong to say that Collins refuses to tolerate fan heckling without a response. Sealing the match point, Danielle Collins sent a kiss to the center court crowd. Flamboyant and full of confidence, she celebrated the victory in true “Danimal” fashion. Nevertheless, the American will face the world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final round. Will she be able to take Madrid Open revenge? Let us know your take in the comments below!