“Danielle Collins goes to hug her team, they put camera on Elena Rybakina WTF!”: Serena Williams’ ex-coach blasts Collins’ Miami Open victory coverage

Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, expressed dissatisfaction with the media coverage of Danielle Collins’ win over Elena Rybakina at the Miami Open.

Clinching her first WTA 1000 title at the 2024 Miami Open on Saturday, March 30, Unseeded Collins defeated Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3, who was a repeat finalist. Along the way, she secured victories over Bernarda Pera, Anastasia Potapova, Elina Avanesyan, Sorana Cirstea, Caroline Garcia, and Ekaterina Alexandrova before reaching the final.

The two-time NCAA champion has participated in a total of five finals throughout her career, achieving victory in the Palermo Ladies Open and the Silicon Valley Classic in 2021, and finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open.

Despite her recent appearance in the finals of the Miami Open, it is expected that this will be one of Collins’ final tournaments on the professional tour. This decision was announced earlier this year after her loss to Iga Swiatek in the second round of the Australian Open. Collins revealed her plans to retire from tennis this season, citing her desire to prioritize starting a family.

Despite being elated by Danielle Collins’ victory in her final season, Rennae Stubbs, ex-coach of Serena Williams, was disappointed with the lack of recognition given to the 30-year-old’s triumph.

The Australian coach requested that the broadcaster pay attention to Collins and her team’s box as she shouted at them to communicate during the intense final moments of her crucial service game.

“‘Talk to me’! !! Please @WTA or @atptour whoever is in charge of the cameras keep it on Danielle right now!!!!!!!! Please!!!! I don’t want to see the crowd! She is the story! The talking to her box is what we need to see!!!”she wrote on X.

Stubbs, in agony, proceeded to mention that Danielle Collins’ celebration with her team was also ignored, while runner-up Elena Rybakina seemed to be favored.

“And omg she goes to hug her team and they put the camera on [Elena Rybakina]!! WTF! !!!! Ughhhhhhhhh,”she wrote.

Danielle Collins Opens Up About Her Health Struggles Before Retirement

Despite facing physical challenges throughout her career, Danielle Collins has been outspoken about her experiences. She first shared her struggles with rheumatoid arthritis in 2019, and more recently in 2021, she candidly discussed her endometriosis surgery.

Throughout her participation in the 2024 Miami Open, Danielle Collins addressed questions about her potential retirement, often discussing her chronic inflammatory illness.

“I think it’s really interesting how in a lot of different situations I have had to kind of justify the reasons behind retirement,”the former World No. 7 said.

“I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant, and so that’s, like, a deeply, like, personal situation. I’ve kind of explained that from time to time,”she added.

After participating in the Miami Open, Collins, previously ranked World No. 53, has moved back into the top 50. She is expected to hold a World No. 22 ranking as of Monday.