Eurosport

Controversial American tennis player Danielle Collins told fans at the Australian Open they should not “take life way too seriously” as she criticised the average age of those who followed the sport.

Collins was repeatedly booed by the Melbourne crowd as she lost her third round match against compatriot and close friend Madison Keys.

The 31-year-old caused controversy with her reaction to the crowd during her second round win over home favourite Destanee Aiava. After coming through in two sets Collins blew kisses to the home fans and slapped her backside before cupping her hands to her ears and thanking them for helping her land “a big fat pay cheque”.

And the locals had clearly not forgotten her antics, with Collins looking slightly taken aback as she was booed when emerging onto Rod Laver Arena for her clash with fellow American Keys.

The boos continued at various intervals during their game, with Collins requiring treatment on a knee injury before going down 6-4, 6-4.

“I expected that obviously,” Collins said after the defeat. “That’s fine. I really do enjoy playing in these types of environments. It’s what you work so hard for your entire life as a kid. I embraced it. I thought overall it was good. It got me fired up at times. It got us into the match and got both of us focused, so yeah.

“Obviously I’m towards the end of my career. It’s wonderful that I can capitalise on these opportunities. I think that six different sponsorship opportunities came up this tournament alone. That’s a great signal for me. Obviously, like I said, every fan contributes to that. It’s been a real blessing.”

Credit: X / @TheTennisLetter / @eurosport

But Collins was keen to have the last word by telling those upset by her actions to learn not to take life so seriously when no one had been hurt, and raised the average age of tennis fans as an explanation for why her antics had not gone down well.

Asked whether she expected similar treatment whenever she returns to Melbourne in the future, Collins added: “I guess that’s up to them, right? At the end of the day whatever happens, happens.

“The biggest thing is that nobody got hurt. Maybe some feelings got hurt or things were taken personally, and they probably shouldn’t have been taken personally by the crowd. But, yeah, I feel like people take life way too seriously sometimes. I think in our sport, it’s like somebody was telling me that the average age of people watching and the fans of tennis is, like, 65. I think we need to kind of bring some entertainment to the game. I think we can try to make jokes and laugh.

“I don’t have a big ego when it comes to this. Honestly, I don’t care what’s written about me. I don’t care, like, what some guy living in his basement is writing on the internet. You know what I mean? I’m just trying to have fun. I’m just trying to enjoy my life and have fun with it.

“Nobody got hurt. That’s the main thing. This is sports. I don’t think the banter is necessarily a terrible thing.”

‘I just love how commentator Kelly called me a brat’

Collins did however mock veteran Australian tennis commentator Tony Kelly for his reaction to her antics. Kelly, who has already been criticised this tournament for taunting fans of Novak Djokovic about his deportation from Australia three years ago, labelled Collins a “brat” for her reaction on Wednesday. In response, the American labelled him “so Gen Z and Millennial” for using a word that has been adopted by pop singer Charli XCX.

“I haven’t been on social media that much, to be honest. I have somebody that helps me run my page and everything. But I love this old guy, Tony Jones. Sorry, everybody in the room that’s over, like, 70, sorry. I just love how he called me a brat. It’s just so Gen Z and Millennial right now with Charli XCX. I really want him to do the dance. He has to do it. I really want to get a one-on-one with him, and we got to do the dance.”

There was a brief interval during the game when a spectator proposed to his partner in the stands, with Collins clapping as she said yes.

Collins had been backed by some players for her attitude, with Djokovic, who has adopted similar tactics in the past, praising her for doing so. “I loved her response. . . everything she said on and off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it,” he said.

The American had not held back after her victory over Aiava, thanking the fans who had booed her for contributing to “the Danielle Collins fund”.

“Well I’m going to be here for two hours, putting up with all these people, I might as well take the bigger pay cheque, right?” she said.

“I was super-happy to do that and one of the greatest things about being a professional athlete are that the people that don’t like you and that hate you, they actually pay your bills.

“It’s kind of a cool concept and obviously my professional career is not going to last forever and I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff that they’re paying my bills.

“Every person that has bought a ticket and has come out here to heckle me can do what they do. It’s all going towards the Danielle Collins fund. So like, yeah, bring it on, I love it.”