In life, sometimes you can’t expect what’s going to happen the next moment. Earlier this year, Danielle Collins was planning to start her family with boyfriend Brian Kipp and hang up her racket. Little did she know that her life would soon turn upside down. In a shocking development in the second half this year, the World No.11 revealed that she will continue to play, after her precious dream of having a child witnessed a major setback.

Last month, in mid-October, DANIMAL shared the news that she was suffering from Endometriosis. It’s a condition that affects the ability to have children. “Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Seeing her friend’s fighting spirit despite hardships, compatriot Jessica Pegula came forward and extended her support. Pegula shared Danielle’s excerpt from her interview in her Instagram story, dated November 21st. While applauding DANIMAL, she dropped a clapping emoji and boosted her courage.  Earlier this month, the American player also revealed that initially she wasn’t aware of her condition.

But thanks to her support system, comprising her friends, she was able to have laparoscopy-a surgical procedure to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. “I had a friend on tour that had endometriosis and she said to me, ‘I had surgery for this’”, she said during an interview with The New York Times, dated November 14th.

While she didn’t reveal the name of her friend, Collins said that things “have been a lot better for me since I’ve had the diagnosis. If it wasn’t for having that friend in that conversation, I don’t think I would have been steered in the right direction.” However, she’s also trying to channel her focus on her career, now that she’s reverted back from retirement. But it will surely take some time to get back in form.

Danielle Collins eying a major comeback after a long break

In the same interview with the NYT, Collins confessed that being away from tennis for an extended period has taken a “lot of gas”  out of her tank. Which means she will need to put more efforts in getting back into a playing mode. Her diagnosis kept her away from the court and it won’t be easy to have a smooth transition again.

“I’m in a much different place now with my tennis, my career, my life. I think getting back out there, you’re trying to get into the competing mode and trying to find that consistency with the physical parts, because I have taken a little bit of time off to address all of this stuff,” she said.

Her brief return this month didn’t prove much fruitful for her country. She participated in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals where World No.32, Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova defeated the American 6-2, 7-5. USA was eventually eliminated after Slovakia advanced further with a lead of 2-1. Her first Billie Jean King Cup victory since 2017.

In her next season, Danielle Collins will try to get back her lost momentum with the Australian Open in 2025. Her stint at the event in 2024 didn’t turn out effective as Iga Swiatek beat her in the second round. It will be intriguing to see whether DANIMAL will succeed in delivering a better performance this time.