‘Paying my bills’: Danielle Collins taunts ‘super drunk’ Australian Open fans who booed during her win over home favorite
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 16: Danielle Collins of the United States blows a kiss to the crowd as she celebrates winning match point in the Women's Singles Second Round match against Destanee Aiava of Australia during day five of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Danielle Collins embraced her role as a pantomime villain at the Australian Open on Thursday, taunting the crowd after defeating home favorite Destanee Aiava 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 in a fiercely contested match. The American’s victory came in front of a boisterous audience, who jeered and booed her throughout the match, but Collins responded by playing into the hostility. After securing the win, she cupped her ear and blew kisses toward the crowd, continuing to engage with them as she made her way back to her chair. The 31-year-old even slapped her own buttocks and kissed her hand as part of her celebration, further stirring the crowd.
Despite the intense boos, Collins relished the charged atmosphere, saying she “loved” playing in front of such a crowd. “I’ve been doing this my whole life and I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on,” Collins said after the match. She explained that the rowdy environment only served to motivate her. “It just motivates me even more, so it’s kind of a good thing, especially when I’m not playing that well,” she added. “It really helped me in the end and just helped me concentrate more. It challenged me at times and pushed me through the finish line.”
Collins reflected on the mental and physical strain of the match, acknowledging the lengthy battle against Aiava, who had come through the qualifying rounds to reach the second round. Despite the long match, Collins found herself thankful for the opportunity to perform under such pressure. “I was really happy in the end when I finally got momentum. I was like: ‘Well, if I’m going to be out here for two and a half hours, putting up with all these people, I might as well just take the bigger paycheck. I was super happy to do that,'” she remarked with a smile.
Her playful teasing of the crowd continued after the match as she conducted her on-court interview. With a grin, she thanked the spectators for coming to the match, all while acknowledging their boos. “You know, I was thinking during the match, I was like: ‘Hmm, if I’m out here I might as well just take that big fat paycheck. We love a five-star vacation, so part of that check is going towards that.” Her comments were met with more loud boos, but Collins kept her cool, sarcastically adding, “Thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight.”
The victory moved her to the third round, and Collins is set to earn 290,000 Australian dollars (roughly $180,000) for her efforts. Joking about the windfall, she said, “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills.” She further revealed how the money would be spent, saying, “My professional career is not going to last forever so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff (the crowd against her) they’re paying my bills. Me and my group of girlfriends, we love a five-star vacation. I can guarantee you that check is going towards our next five-star trip, hopefully to the Bahamas.”
In what has been a career defined by perseverance and overcoming adversity, Collins also commented on the toll the sport has taken on her, mentioning her decision to postpone retirement in 2024. “It’s been quite a journey with health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, and I wanted to start a family,” she said, revealing the personal reasons behind her career decisions. “But for now, I’m enjoying every moment of it.”
Collins’ fiery interaction with the crowd caught the attention of fellow players, including Novak Djokovic, who praised her composure in the face of criticism. Djokovic, who faced a similarly charged atmosphere during his own third-round match, lauded Collins’ response, saying, “I loved her response. I loved it. Everything she said on the court, off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before. But now? Big fan. I love it.”
Meanwhile, another story of injury and withdrawal emerged at the Australian Open as Naomi Osaka was forced to retire during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic. Osaka had been leading 5-2 in the first set but began struggling with an abdominal injury, which allowed Bencic to come back and take the set in a tiebreak. Despite receiving treatment during the match, Osaka was ultimately unable to continue, withdrawing from the match after failing to recover fully.
The events of Thursday highlight the unpredictability and drama of the Australian Open, with players like Collins using the crowd’s energy to fuel their performances, while others, like Osaka, face the harsh realities of physical setbacks. As Collins prepares for her third-round match against compatriot Madison Keys, she remains focused on continuing her strong run at the tournament.
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