“When I first got on tour, I felt almost discouraged” – Danielle Collins on how she faced criticism for playing college tennis

During her early days, Danielle Collins revealed that her college tennis background was looked down upon by former players on the WTA Tour.

During her swan song year, Collins had an impressive performance at the Miami Open last week. The 30-year-old only lost one set on her way to her first WTA 1000 victory, defeating higher-ranked players such as Elena Rybakina, Caroline Garcia, and Sorana Cirstea.

Despite her undeniable success on the women’s tennis circuit, Danielle Collins’ journey to turning pro was not without its challenges. Prior to joining the professional circuit in 2016, the American had a successful college career representing the University of Virginia, winning two NCAA Division I Women’s Singles Championships. However, she recently revealed that her transition to the professional circuit was not as smooth as she had hoped.

In an interview with WTA Insider after winning the Miami Open title, the player ranked 22nd in the world stated that her competitors did not give her much credit for her run to the semifinals in the 2019 Australian Open. She also revealed that some older players had mentioned contemplating retirement at her age of 25.

“When I first got on the tour, I remember I felt almost discouraged because I went to college,”Danielle Collins said (11:16). “I remember after I made the semifinals in Australia, people were like, ‘Oh, do you know Collins never won a match before this?’ I’m like, ‘I’d only played three or four tournaments.’ I had former players much older than me come up to me and go, like, ‘Wow, I was retiring at your age!’”

In addition, Collins noted that her delayed entry into the professional world also had an impact on her potential sponsorship opportunities.

“This is, like, hard, sometimes, to justify what I was doing and the path that I took to so many people,”she added (11:47). “Sponsors and people in this industry, because tennis is one of these sports where we have so much rich tennis tradition.”

Danielle Collins reflects on her college tennis experience: “A journey of personal growth and humility”

Despite facing cynics, Danielle Collins remained proud of her college tennis accomplishments. In her conversation with WTA Insider, the American discussed the valuable life lessons she gained prior to turning pro, which provided her with a unique perspective on her journey thus far.

“With all the accomplishments and the highs and the lows, and being able to weather those storms. And to get through those challenging moments, I’m definitely proud of me as a person. But I think the biggest thing it has taught me is humility,”Danielle Collins said (10:15). “I feel like that’s contributed so much to my perspective and outlook on my career and the journey of being a professional tennis player.”

“I came from nothing, and my parents did everything for me as a kid to give me the opportunity. And to earn a college scholarship, to have gone to school,”the American added (10:37). “Got to experience being at one of the best universities in the country, and then also being on the team, and getting to have that experience.”

Currently participating in the Credit One Charleston Open, Danielle Collins has successfully adapted from playing on hardcourt to clay. She achieved this by defeating second-seeded Ons Jabeur and a resurgent Paula Badosa, securing her spot in the Round of 16 of the prestigious WTA 500 tournament.

In case you are not aware, the American player will be retiring from professional tennis at some point this year, as she announced to the press during the Australian Open in January. The 30-year-old also shared during her participation in the Miami Open that she is currently struggling with a “chronic inflammatory disease”that affects her fertility.