“While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into my next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned,” Danielle Collins wrote on Instagram, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. After nearly a decade in the sport, the World No. 11 had announced earlier this year that 2024 would be her final season, citing her desire to start a family. But in a surprising turn of events, the American put those plans on hold and decided to continue her career on the WTA Tour.

After the announcement of her announcement, Collins had a standout 2024 season, which saw her playing some of the best tennis of her career. She claimed the biggest title of her career at the WTA 1000 Miami Open and followed it up with another win at the WTA 500 in Charleston. At 30, it seemed like the perfect time for her to bow out on a high note.

But life, as it often does, had other ideas. Collins has been open about her struggles with endometriosis, a condition that can affect fertility. Starting a family has always been a priority for her, and she’s been vocal about the emotional and physical toll of navigating these challenges. In May, she told BBC Sport that becoming a mother was “one of her biggest goals outside of tennis.”

“In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family,” Collins shared in her Instagram post. “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.”

The delays in her family planning have, however, allowed Collins to reconsider her timeline and focus on extending her tennis career for the time being. “So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025,” she announced, much to the excitement of her fans.

As she processes her personal struggles, Collins has found a sense of comfort and distraction in tennis.

Danielle Collins calls tennis a ‘nice distraction’ amid personal struggles

Danielle Collins hadn’t planned to compete at the Australian Open this year, but the familiarity of the sport and its routines have given her something to lean on. “Tennis was a nice distraction,” the 30-year-old said.

She further went on to add, “I have been doing this for seven, eight years. My closest friendships are a lot of the women on tour, a lot of the people on tour. You think about that lifestyle change when you’re going through something that’s so challenging emotionally, and then to not have that support system, that’s … Yeah, it’s a lot. So I’m glad that I can keep doing this for a little bit longer.”

Danielle Collins began her season representing the United States at the United Cup, a mixed-team tournament held in Sydney and Perth. From there, she moved on to the Adelaide International, where she faced a tough opening-round loss to Ons Jabeur, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist.

Despite the early setbacks, Collins has her sights set on Melbourne, where she has made the final before in 2022. She will take on the Ukrainian player Daria Snigur in her first-round match at the Australian Open on January 13.

What do you think of Danielle Collins’s unexpected return to the tour?