“Please respect Danielle Collins’ decision”; “Very insensitive”: Fans react to Chris Evert urging American to reconsider retirement after Miami win

After her 2024 Miami Open victory, Chris Evert’s plea for Danielle Collins to reconsider retirement has caused frustration among tennis fans.

On Saturday, March 30, Collins secured her first-ever WTA 1000 title by defeating No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina in the Miami Open final. Despite a close first set, the American emerged victorious in just over two hours as the second set proved to be relatively straightforward.

Despite her recent title win, Collins remains committed to her decision to retire from professional tennis at the end of the year in order to start a family. When questioned about potentially changing her plans, the American firmly dismissed any possibility of reconsideration.

“No, I’m not. Thank you, though,”Collins said in her post-match press conference.

In her congratulatory message to Collins, Chris Evert also encouraged her fellow countrywoman to reconsider her decision.

“A big Hug and Congratulations to Danielle Collins in winning the #Miami Open. Spectacular play throughout the whole tournament….but….Are you really sure you want to retire?,”Chris Evert wrote on X.

Some fans expressed their frustration on social media about Evert’s comments. One fan specifically asked the 18-time Grand Slam champion to show respect for Collins’ decision.

“Really? She’s asked repeatedly not to be questioned about this. She was fantastic but please respect her decision,”the fan wrote.

Despite Collins clearly stating her decision, another fan considered Evert’s question “insensitive”.

“I think that a very insensitive question right now, as Danielle has made it very clear why she’s doing this and how [she’s] feeling about it,”their tweet read.

A different individual advised individuals to refrain from engaging in disputes regarding Collins’ retirement plans and instead appreciate her game while she is still actively playing.

“Why are there so many comments questioning her decision? She has a deeply personal health issue and she’s choosing her future family. This is a big deal and we should respect her and enjoy her whilst she’s still playing,”they wrote.

Additional responses from tennis enthusiasts are listed below:

Danielle Collins on preparing for retirement: “It’s never too early to start planning for your future”

Danielle Collins welcomed questions about her retirement plans, as she believed that these inquiries came from a genuine desire for fans to see her continue playing on the tour.

“I feel like all of these questions are coming from such a good place, because I feel like a lot of people would like to continue seeing me play well,”Collins said at the presser.

Despite facing tough opponents, Collins had an outstanding performance at the Miami Open, only losing one set throughout the entire tournament.

The player who had previously been the runner-up at the Australian Open emerged victorious in the final on Saturday after defeating opponents including Bernarda Pera, Anastasia Potapova, Elina Avanesyan, Sorana Cirstea, Caroline Garcia, and Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Danielle Collins’ next match will take place at the Charleston Open, where she will be up against Paula Badosa in the first round.