NEW DELHI: Danielle Collins endured a challenging evening at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday, facing a chorus of boos as she exited the tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to fellow American Madison Keys in the third round.
The 31-year-old Collins had stirred controversy two days earlier when she became a polarizing figure at Melbourne Park. During her second-round win over Australian wildcard Destanee Aiava, Collins sarcastically thanked hecklers for "paying my bills" and engaged provocatively with the home crowd by blowing kisses, cupping her ear, and pointing to her backside.
"Every person that's bought a ticket to come out here and heckle me or do what they do, it's all going towards the Danielle Collins Fund," she remarked afterward.
Her arrival on Rod Laver Arena for the match against the 19th-seeded Keys was met with a mixed reception, as a combination of cheers and boos filled the air. The crowd's reactions intensified when Collins committed her first double fault, prompting further applause from some spectators.
As tensions mounted, the chair umpire intervened at the end of the opening set, urging fans to respect both players.
Collins, seeded 10th, required a medical timeout late in the second set while trailing 4-3. She returned to the court with heavy strapping on her left leg but was unable to mount a comeback. By the time the match concluded, the stadium was only half-full, with the remaining crowd offering a blend of cheers and boos as Collins exited.
Despite the controversial atmosphere, Keys remained composed throughout the match, letting her tennis do the talking as she advanced to the fourth round.
