Danielle Collins has postponed her retirement from tennis.
The American former Australian Open finalist had intended to call it a day at the end of 2024 with plans to start a family, but admitted fertility problems linked to endometriosis have prompted a rethink.
Collins, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2021, revealed in January that she wanted this to be her final season on tour, and she stuck to her guns despite a brilliant first half of the year that saw her win back-to-back titles in Miami and Charleston.
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Highlights of the quarter-final clash between Victoria Azarenka and Collins in Rome
Currently ranked ninth in the world, Collins has been absent from the tour recently amid health problems but eyebrows were raised when her name appeared in the US team for the United Cup in Australia, the opening event of the 2025 season.
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Highlights of the Internationaux De Strasbourg match between Collins and Anhelina Kalinina
The 30-year-old wrote on Instagram: “While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump head first into my next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned.
“In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family.
“Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought.
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Highlights from the match between Collins and Caroline Garcia at the Italian Open
“So, the DANIMAL (her nickname) story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.
“While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.”
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis this month?
- Almaty Open, Kazakhstan – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Stockholm Open, Sweden – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- European Open, Antwerp – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Japan Open, Osaka – WTA 250 (October 14-20)
- Ningbo Open, China – WTA 500 (October 14-20)
- Erste Bank Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
