Danielle Collins’ Wimbledon run has ended, with a 5-7 3-6 loss to Barbora Krejcikova. The 2022 Australian Open runner-up hoped to reach her first singles quarterfinal at SW19.
In the opening set, Collins displayed incredible grit, saving nine breakpoints with big serves and aggressive groundstrokes. However, Krejcikova’s unyielding defence ultimately saw her snatch the set 7-5, converting her 10th breakpoint and holding serve to take the lead.
The beginning of the second set saw Collins summoning a crucial hold, only to be immediately derailed as she succumbed to the pressure, getting broken to love in the third game. Matters worsened as she had to call for a medical timeout due to a left hamstring issue. Despite returning to the court strapped up and visibly hampered by discomfort, the 11th seed fought on, breaking Krejcikova while she served for the match. But ultimately, the 11th seed conceded the second set 6-3.
This was a tough last matchup for Collins but she did not give up. Throughout the match, despite falling behind, she maintained her trademark feisty demeanour for most of the match. She was her animated self, laughing sarcastically at missed shots and engaging with the crowd. Despite her injury, she hit 6 aces and 16 winners, underscoring her tenacity.
Reaching the fourth round was a career-best for Collins at Wimbledon this season, setting yet another record in her final season. The 30-year-old American announced at the Australian Open in January that this season would be her last. She made this decision citing her health conditions–rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis. Since the announcement, she has won the Miami Open and Charleston Open. She also reached the final of the Strasbourg Open and the semifinals of the Rome Open. Before this season, she had only won two singles titles, both in 2021.
After the loss, her dream to compete on the Centre Court was left unfulfilled, but her remarkable legacy solidifies her status as a true champion. Even though her Wimbledon journey has come to an end, she comes out as the champion that tennis needs right now. Throughout her run in London and the entire season, her passion and prowess have been undeniable. After her third-round win against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, Collins was her unapologetic self and said, “Women get framed as emotional and frustrated and this and that. I just say ‘F it.” Her remarkable story of unwavering determination in the final season adds a unique touch of resilience to the storyline. With her retiring on her own terms and at a high point, she leaves behind a legacy that casts a notably positive light on the sport where many careers are marred by injuries.
Her recent form has also earned her some attention from fellow American, actor Matthew McConaughey. The Interstellar star was all praises for Collins:
https://x.com/McConaughey/status/1809912302587596802
In this already, poetic season, she will now have the chance to play at the Olympics in Paris later this month. Collins is set to represent the U.S.A. at the Olympics in Paris alongside Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro, offering a satisfying narrative closure to the story of her professional career as a tennis player.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
