Who is Danielle Collins? Meet the American tennis star who will face Ash Barty in the 2022 Australian Open final
After overcoming a number of challenges throughout her tennis career, Danielle Collins is gearing up for her biggest match to date, facing top seed Ash Barty in the 2022 Australian Open final.
Collins, 28, beat Iga Świątek 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals and went on to compete with world No. 1 Barty in her first Grand Slam final.
Collins had previously reached the semi-finals at the 2019 Australian Open, but was defeated by Petra Kvitová, who lost to Naomi Osaka in the final.
“To be playing against the world No. 1 in her hometown, I think it’s going to be really spectacular,” Collins said in the on-court interview.
Collins has faced Barty four times in her career and overcame the Australian 3-1 in their matches. She won her first match against Barty at the Adelaide International 2021.
Sporting News has given you everything there is to know about the American tennis star ahead of Saturday’s final game.
Who is Danielle Collins?
Born in St.Petersburg, Fla., Collins started playing tennis at the age of 3. After playing a year of college tennis in Florida, she moved to Virginia and won the NCAA singles title in 2014 and 2016. Finished During her time in Charlottesville, Collins was the highest-ranked college tennis player in the sport, and she broke into the top 50 on the 2018 WTA Tour.
Collins has had to battle a number of health complications throughout his career. After reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2019, she began treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This condition can damage many body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. according to Mayo Clinic.
In her final match against Świątek at the 2021 Adelaide International, Collins was forced to retire early due to severe back pain. She underwent multiple consultations with severe abdominal pain and pelvic cramping, and then had emergency surgery to treat endometriosis. The painful condition is described as a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus – the endometrium – grows outside your uterus, according to Mayo Clinic.
“It’s something that sometimes we have to face these painful moments, you have to learn to accept it,” Collins told reporters at a press conference after the semi-final victory. “For me, things started to get too unusual and really unhealthy and it caused a lot of havoc for me in that time period.”
Danielle Collins’ Road to the Australian Open Final
27th seed Collins beat fellow American Caroline Dolehide for the first time 6-1, 6-3 in straight sets. In the second round, she defeated Ana Konjuh 6-4, 6-3. She survived a terrifying bout against Clara Tauson in the third round and came from behind to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Collins beat Elise Mertens 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round and beat Alizé Cornet 7-6, 5-1 in the quarterfinals before beating Iga Świątek 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals. .
Danielle Collins’ career record
Collins began his professional career at age 22 in 2016 after winning two NCAA titles in Virginia.
Entering the final, she holds a record 88-59 in her WTA Tour career, including a record of 26-16 at Grand Slam tournaments.
Two WTA titles in her career came last season, in San Jose and Palermo. It was also her only career appearance in a tournament final.
Whatever happens in the finals, Collins – currently ranked 30 in the world – is predicted to break into the WTA top 10 next week. Her best career rating to date is 23rd, which she achieved in 2019.
