Danielle Collins has emerged as one of the most captivating narratives of the WTA Tour this season, and she’s just added an unexpected chapter to what she had previously declared would be her final year in tennis.
The 2022 Australian Open finalist originally planned to retire at the close of 2024 to focus on starting a family. However, struggles with fertility issues tied to her endometriosis diagnosis in 2021 have prompted her to reconsider her timeline. Despite announcing in January that she aimed to make this her last season, Collins has stayed true to her word, even amidst a remarkable start to the year, which saw her clinch consecutive titles in Miami and Charleston.
Ranked ninth globally, Collins has recently been sidelined due to health concerns. Nevertheless, her inclusion in the US team for the upcoming United Cup in Australia—kicking off the 2025 season—has sparked intrigue among fans and analysts alike.
In an Instagram post, the 30-year-old shared her thoughts: “While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst 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.”
She elaborated on the complexities of navigating endometriosis and fertility issues, stating, “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. So, the DANIMAL (her affectionate nickname) story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.”
Collins emphasized her determination to build on her successes from 2024, stating, “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.”
Her openness about her personal health struggles has endeared her to fans, marking her as one of the most intriguing personalities in women’s tennis. This isn’t the first time Collins has bravely addressed issues that many athletes shy away from; her willingness to share her journey positions her as a positive influence in the sport.
Back in 2022, she made headlines during her impressive Grand Slam run by candidly discussing her off-court battles. “When so much of the advice you’ve gotten over the years—certainly the advice that I had received—was that painful periods are normal, and taking anti-inflammatories on a regular basis is normal, I felt like it was something that I just had to deal with,” she reflected following her quarter-final win at the Australian Open.
She added, “It finally got to the point where I couldn’t deal any longer with it physically or mentally. Once I was able to get the proper diagnosis and the surgery, I feel like it’s helped me so much—not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint. When you’re dealing with that type of physical pain multiple weeks out of the month, you’re not putting yourself in a position to be able to perform consistently and to be at your best, whether as an athlete or a person.”
Originally slated to retire after the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga next month, her decision to extend her career will surely be celebrated by her devoted fanbase across the tennis community. Collins continues to inspire, both through her resilience on the court and her commitment to addressing vital issues affecting women in sports.