Former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins revealed Thursday she plans to quit tennis this year, saying having children is on her agenda.
The 30-year-old pushed world number one Iga Swiatek in a tough three-set match in the second round on Rod Laver Arena and said afterwards it would be her last time at the tournament.
“This is going to be my last season, actually, competing,” she said following the 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 defeat.
“I don’t really know exactly when, but this will be my last season and I’m really looking forward to that.”
This is the final #AusOpen for Danielle Collins, who confirmed she will stop competing after this year.We wish our 2022 finalist the very best ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sz9vBo4YZu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2024
“You know, I feel like I’ve had a pretty good career,” she added.
“There has certainly been ups and downs to it, and I think the travel and some of the things away from the court with scheduling and all of that, this is a really tough sport.”
Collins beat 22-year-old Swiatek in the 2022 semi-finals in Melbourne, but the Polish top seed had won their past three meetings, which all came last season.
“Honestly I was at the airport already,” a relieved Swiatek said in the immediate aftermath of her win in a match lasting more than three hours.
“I know she played perfectly but it was hard for anybody to keep that level so I wanted to be ready when mistakes came from the other side,” she added.
“I’m really proud of myself because it wasn’t easy.
“I felt like I had the momentum going and then she started to play suddenly two times faster and I had no idea how to react for a couple of games, but I came back and I thought the only thing I can focus on is myself,” said Swiatek.
Collins’ career highlight was reaching the final at Melbourne Park in 2022, where she lost to the now-retired Ashleigh Barty.
She reached a career-high seven in the world the same year and has won two WTA Tour titles.
“I have other things that I’d kind of like to accomplish in my life outside of tennis, and would like to be able to kind of be able to have the time to be able to do that,” she said.
“Obviously having kids is a big priority for me.”
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