“You’re Not 15”- Shots Fired at Danielle Collins as Russian WTA Pro Condemns the American’s Australian Open Act

Danielle Collins knows how to stir the pot! At the Australian Open, she faced a rowdy crowd while battling local favorite Destanee Aiava, and the boos were deafening. Instead of backing down, Collins embraced the drama, blowing kisses to her critics and cupping her ear as if to say, “Bring it on!” After clinching a hard-fought victory in three sets, she cheekily remarked that the hecklers were essentially funding her “Danielle Collins Fund.” While some players are unfazed by her antics, others are not so open to it.

In a chat with the Polish publication Więcej, Russian pro-Anastasia Potapova shared her thoughts on who she considers her “biggest enemy” on the WTA tour. Currently ranked No. 33, Potapova turned pro in 2017 and has won two titles: at Linz in 2023 and Istanbul in 2022. Having spent plenty of time on the court, she knows a tough opponent when she sees one. But it seems Collins is being singled out for more than just her skills.

Potapova stated, “There’s no need for hysteria on the court. Well, you’re not 15 anymore; why do you need it? Still, it’s more pleasant for me to watch such hysteria than some cold, empty face. Is she even interested in tennis? Does she lose or win there?” It’s true—tennis isn’t tennis without a little drama. Rivalries like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek draw fans in because they showcase determination and skill.

However, at the Australian Open, Collins seemed to have more of a rivalry with the crowd than with Aiava. Anastasia added, “There are players on the tour who are completely devoid of emotion. That’s not my story. I still like to watch some action, emotions. Probably in Danielle’s case it’s too much.” Her antics—like blowing kisses or patting her backside—might have crossed a line for some.

Not everyone was thrilled with her brash admission that crowd disapproval helped her earn a whopping 290,000 Australian dollars ($180,000). She quipped, “I might as well take that big fat paycheck!” Yet even Potapova admitted she “still prefer this kind of hysteria and agony to a poker face.”

Perhaps she has a point. Potapova isn’t alone in finding tennis controversies fun to watch. Sure, being part of the drama can be stressful, but looking back at those moments can bring a good laugh—just ask Jessica Pegula!

Pegula recalls all the AO controversies with a positive mindset

Danielle Collins definitely grabbed the spotlight at the Australian Open with her bold comments about prize money, but she wasn’t the only one stirring up drama! The sport has had its fair share of on-court antics that had fans buzzing. Even though Jessica Pegula didn’t make it past the third round, she took to Instagram to share some of the tournament’s most viral moments. Among them was Collins’ now-famous kiss-and-pat moment, where she playfully mocked the crowd after beating local favorite Destanee Aiava in the second round at KIA Arena. Talk about a showstopper!

But wait, there’s more! On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev had his own unforgettable moment during his first-round match against Kasidit Samrej, where he went full-on racket-smashing mode in frustration while trailing 3-5 in the final set. Then there was Erin Routliffe from New Zealand, who exploded with anger over the lack of ‘let’ machines.

And let’s not forget Alexander Zverev, who found himself in a bizarre situation during his quarterfinal against Tommy Paul when a feather caused confusion after a ‘let’ call. With all this drama unfolding, Pegula couldn’t help but chuckle and posted, “So many good moments 😂” on her Instagram story on Saturday after the AO finals.

Pegula chimed in on Collins’ antics during an interview, echoing Coco Gauff’s vibe: “I guess Coco said it best, Danielle’s going to be Danielle. I think that’s the perfect way to put it.” This isn’t the first controversy Collins stirred up this season.

Remember her handshake with Iga Swiatek at the United Cup? As Team USA and Team Poland lined up for handshakes, Collins made a snarky face at Swiatek, clearly showing her disdain. This brought back memories of their previous feud at the Paris Olympics when Collins called Iga “insincere” about her concern for Collins’ injury. Jessica added, “I appreciate that she’s honest, and she is who she is and I think it’s honestly great for the sport.”

With the 2025 season just kicking off, we’re in for even more thrilling moments! What do you think? Will we see some drama that tops these wild scenes?