Danielle Collins thanked her haters for paying her bills at the Australian Open, and this is the kind of energy more people need to have.
As much as athletes probably hope a crowd is for them during matches, it won’t always be that way. Sometimes, fans are for the opposing player, and they let it be known.
But Danielle Collins, apparently, eats hate for breakfast, and she wouldn’t let it affect her as she beat Australian native Destanee Aiava during a second-round match. “During the match, I was like, hmm, if I’m out here, I might as well take that big fat paycheck,” Collins said in an interview as the crowd booed her.
Danielle Collins to the crowd after beating Aiava at Australian Open
“During the match I was like, while I’m out here I might as well take that big fat paycheck.”
The crowd is booing.
It’s all happening.
pic.twitter.com/b3pxejPHkc— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
Cold-blooded. Right? But she wasn’t done.
During her media availability, Collins went IN on the crowd, trolling them for helping her to victory and paying her bills. Here’s what she said (See the 50-second mark of the YouTube video below):
“I loved it…I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on…It kind of just motivated me even more…One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you—they actually pay your bills.”
“It’s kind of a cool concept…I just remind myself every day, when I have that kind of stuff, they’re paying my bills. Every person’s that bought a ticket to come out here and heckle me or do what they do, it’s all going towards the Danielle Collins fund…Bring it on. I love it.”
