Danielle Collins’ Unseen ‘Thoughtful’ and ‘Kind’ Persona Laid Bare by ESPN Veteran in an Endearing Admission

Danielle Collins is not a player who is seen in a positive light when on-court. Even off-court, she stayed at an interview “desk for 15 minutes” to sign “every last autograph”. However, many fans turned around when she argued with a heckler in the stands. While the tennis world is split on their opinion of her, a commenting veteran is here to clear the air around Collins’ personality.

Steve Weismann, an ESPN veteran who has covered many sports, has a better understanding of athletes. He sat down with Tennis Channel to discuss the difference between Collins on-court and off-court. As per him, she is someone who loves her fans and will take time for them.

“First time she comes, we do a nice little interview. She literally stayed at the desk for 15 minutes, just chatting, signs every last autograph. And then this happens every single time she comes to the desk.” He further said that players seem more intense on the court as, “That is their place of work and whatever they need to do in that space to reach greatness, that’s what they do,” but they are not the same off-court.

From what Weismann has seen, “Danielle Collins is a thoughtful, kind, incredible human. It really made me happy and proud to see everything that Danielle has been able to accomplish in what will be her last year. Don’t question her about her last year.”

He also brought in Andy Murray, who is struggling on Tour. “Don’t question Andy Murray about whether he wants to play. Let these athletes do them and do whatever they want. They’ve earned that.” Weismann believes tennis fans have a misconception of Collins, which found some evidence in the Madrid Open and the Charleston Open.

Danielle Collins loves her “strong fan base” but as a player, she deserves “a little more respect”

During the Charleston Open, Collins displayed fantastic tennis, which helped her win the tournament. After her quarterfinal win, Collins talked about the love she has for her fans in an interview with Tennis Channel. She stated, “I think I’ve had such a strong fan base behind me my whole career and they’ve been ride or dies I’ve had some of the same fans from the time I graduated from college.”

Her showering love on her fans did not concern those who found her annoying when she talked down a heckler in Madrid. “You come out and you play. Come out here and do what I do, okay? Have a little more respect,” were her words to the members of the audience. Fans online did not like her words and told her to retire quickly, while some said they could not stand her.

One said that Collins and respect do not go together as she does not respect her opponents. Weismann’s words of the on-court and off-court personalities being different proved true in these circumstances as she showed love in one case but irked the tennis base in another.