When Collins does return, she does so with force and intensity much deserving of her “Danimal” nickname. Murray refers to her as instant oatmeal, a rare individual who can show up without rust to play at a high level against the very best. Collins understands she’s ingrained with competitive DNA, but also believes it’s a requirement of the profession she’s entered.
“If you’re not competitve, how are you going to get the highest level?” she asked rhetorically.
Collins feels at home on the tennis court because she can be her true self, which includes the ability to talk and banter when working to get better.
“My dad tried to get me into swimming in the beginning, and I felt like I couldn’t do that in swimming. Like in tennis, there’s so much more conversation that takes place and I love that.”
The Tennis.com Podcast is always appointment listening, but this episode will hit your ears differently. Listen as Coco Gauff discusses all that went into her signature New Balance shoe, and which celebrity she dreams of one day meeting.
And I promise, you’ve never heard Danielle Collins as open about what she likes to do off the court, from her favorite hobbies to her home development project. These two dynamic Americans are leading the charge for their sport, and this show will pull the curtain back and reveal that there is much more about each than meets the eye.