‘Cash checks’ – Danielle Collins renews fan feud with social media stunt ahead of potential $1.2 million record prize
Danielle Collins is showing no signs of slowing down. The American is back after her two-month hiatus from tennis and announced her return by partnering with the brand Richsport to drop new merchandise. In the money – Collins had the perfect response to taunting fans in Australia In a video on her Instagram, the 31-year-old wore an orange t-shirt with ‘Play Tennis. Cash Checks’ written on it. It’s a reference to the meltdown that ensued in January at the Australian Open where she responded to the booing crowd by thanking them for the $183,000 she earned in Melbourne. After beating Australian Destanee Aiava in the second round she cupped her ears and blew the arena kisses. She boasted money earned will be used for a ‘ five-star trip’ and thanks to the hostile crowd, she could pay some bills. And ahead of a busy tennis season, she made no secret where her prize money will be going. “A merch drop for you all,” she wrote on Instagram, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Play Tennis. Cash Checks. Repeat.’ She added part of proceeds will go to a women’s equity fund. In the video, Collins also played an extract from her press conference after her second-round win in the background. “We love a five star vacation, so I guarantee you that cheque is going towards our next five star trip hopefully in the Bahamas,” the audio on her post played. “We like boats, we like big boats, the yachts so yeah. We’ll post about it and let you guys know how it goes.” At the time, Collins said she ‘loved’ the hostile atmosphere she faced from the crowd down under. Collins came out firing in California and her merch is sure to get people irate over nothing@Danimalcollins “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills,” Collins said. “My professional career is not going to last forever so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff [negative crowd reactions] they’re paying my bills.” Now Collins will make her return to tennis after not playing a single match since her third-round exit at the Australian Open. Seeded 14th, Collins will play qualifier Haile Baptisie in the second round at Indian Wells after receiving a bye in the first round. Indian Wells is a lucrative tournament and provides the American with an opportunity to earn even more money. Her second-round appearance means she has already earned $63,000. Should she reach the quarter-finals, Collins will receive $202,000, surpassing the prize money she earned in Melbourne. The champion at Indian Wells will receive a stunning $1.2 million, a record purse for the tournament to date. Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu has started a trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik ahead of her return to the courts for the first time since her stalker ordeal in Dubai. The 22-year-old was left cowering behind the umpire’s chair in tears and feels her ordeal could have been handled better by tennis authorities. Since that incident I have definitely got increased attention and greater security. “All we can do is look at what happened and react to it in a better way, in a more positive way, rather than looking back and blaming the situation. Now it is being dealt with better, so for me that’s important. Iga Swiatek won the 2024 edition, becoming the first player since Maria Sharapova in 2013 to win the title without dropping a setGetty “I’m always now very aware and not necessarily doing things on my own any more. I’m always with someone and always being watched.” Raducanu will play will play world number three Coco Gauff in the second round at Indian Wells – if she can beat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round. Gauff had a February to forget and failed to win a single set. After losing in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open to Paula Badosa, the 20-year-old suffered further losses to Martha Kostyuk in Doha before losing to McCartney Kessler 6-4, 7-5 in Dubai. But she is playing down any concerns over form.
Danielle Collins is showing no signs of slowing down.
The American is back after her two-month hiatus from tennis and announced her return by partnering with the brand Richsport to drop new merchandise.
In a video on her Instagram, the 31-year-old wore an orange t-shirt with ‘Play Tennis. Cash Checks’ written on it.
It’s a reference to the meltdown that ensued in January at the Australian Open where she responded to the booing crowd by thanking them for the $183,000 she earned in Melbourne.
After beating Australian Destanee Aiava in the second round she cupped her ears and blew the arena kisses.
She boasted money earned will be used for a ‘ five-star trip’ and thanks to the hostile crowd, she could pay some bills.
And ahead of a busy tennis season, she made no secret where her prize money will be going.
“A merch drop for you all,” she wrote on Instagram, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Play Tennis. Cash Checks. Repeat.’
She added part of proceeds will go to a women’s equity fund.
In the video, Collins also played an extract from her press conference after her second-round win in the background.
“We love a five star vacation, so I guarantee you that cheque is going towards our next five star trip hopefully in the Bahamas,” the audio on her post played.
“We like boats, we like big boats, the yachts so yeah. We’ll post about it and let you guys know how it goes.”
At the time, Collins said she ‘loved’ the hostile atmosphere she faced from the crowd down under.
“One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills,” Collins said.
“My professional career is not going to last forever so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff [negative crowd reactions] they’re paying my bills.”
Now Collins will make her return to tennis after not playing a single match since her third-round exit at the Australian Open.
Seeded 14th, Collins will play qualifier Haile Baptisie in the second round at Indian Wells after receiving a bye in the first round.
Indian Wells is a lucrative tournament and provides the American with an opportunity to earn even more money.
Her second-round appearance means she has already earned $63,000.
Should she reach the quarter-finals, Collins will receive $202,000, surpassing the prize money she earned in Melbourne.
The champion at Indian Wells will receive a stunning $1.2 million, a record purse for the tournament to date.
Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu has started a trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik ahead of her return to the courts for the first time since her stalker ordeal in Dubai.
The 22-year-old was left cowering behind the umpire’s chair in tears and feels her ordeal could have been handled better by tennis authorities.
Since that incident I have definitely got increased attention and greater security.
“All we can do is look at what happened and react to it in a better way, in a more positive way, rather than looking back and blaming the situation. Now it is being dealt with better, so for me that’s important.
“I’m always now very aware and not necessarily doing things on my own any more. I’m always with someone and always being watched.”
Raducanu will play will play world number three Coco Gauff in the second round at Indian Wells – if she can beat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round.
Gauff had a February to forget and failed to win a single set.
After losing in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open to Paula Badosa, the 20-year-old suffered further losses to Martha Kostyuk in Doha before losing to McCartney Kessler 6-4, 7-5 in Dubai.
But she is playing down any concerns over form.
