US OPEN

August 31, 2022

Danielle Collins

Press Conference

D. COLLINS/N. Osaka

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Could you give us your thoughts on the match.

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I mean, like I said, I lost to Naomi three times before, so going into the match I had a lot of information on what I kind of needed to do better, areas I could improve.

I think I did those things and played overall pretty well. I got lucky in some big moments. But I was working really hard for the points. She wasn't giving me a ton much free ones.

Really overall I think it was a solid match, high level of tennis from both of us. I'm just really still kind of speechless in a way because I took the summer off. To kind of come out here, play a tough opponent first round, someone that's won two Grand Slams here, it's not easy.

Yeah, just really over the moon about being able to get through this first round because I don't think most players want to face Naomi in the first round, so...

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did you feel some of the frustrations you've been through were fuel tonight or did you not even need that? How did you hit that high note so quickly coming back?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I definitely didn't feel too frustrated. I felt happy just to be out here playing. I think when you face as many challenges as I've faced with some of the things I've been dealing with, you're kind of more grateful to kind of be out here, being able to compete.

Yeah, was just really trying to embrace it and kind of enjoy the match maybe more than I usually do because I think sometimes I can get so locked into my tactics, trying to get to the next step, doing things a certain way, that it can sometimes take away the joy of playing.

Just trying to focus on trying to enjoy the match, have as much fun as I can and embrace every moment.

Q. You talked on court about being 0-3 against her, how much that was motivation. What kind of space did she occupy in your mind? What does it mean to overcome that hurdle?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I mean, in terms of her game, obviously with everything that she's accomplished, being the No. 1 player in the world at one point, four Grand Slams, that's a hard thing to face when you're playing against somebody with that type of résumé.

From her tactical side, I think her serve is probably one of the biggest things that's a challenge on court, trying to break her. She's serving so big. She's mixing her targets really well. Trying to anticipate where she's going to go. That was a really big thing for me tonight, was just trying to break serve.

Then also be really selective about my targets on my serve, to be smart in big moments, especially when I'd lose a little bit of momentum. I think the serving and returning was the biggest things in the match, especially against her.

Q. What was your reaction when you saw the draw come out?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I didn't even remember what I was thinking, to be honest. I think I was just, Oh, crap (laughter).

Yeah, someone told me. I was like, Oh, well. That was lucky.

Yeah, I think both of us, I'm capable of playing a pretty high level, with the success she had, it was kind of like, wow, it's kind of tough for both of us to have to place each other in the first round. But such a great match for all the fans to watch. I think we played really high level tennis so we can both kind of walk away happy with the performance.

Q. In terms of not playing since July, what kind of were the issues that kept you off the court? When did you decide you were ready to come back?

DANIELLE COLLINS: I've been dealing with a neck injury all year, so that's just been something that hasn't really gone away. I haven't really had adequate time to let it rest and to heal. It's one of these things that gets better when I'm resting. When I start playing again, it kind of comes back.

I felt like in the beginning of the year when I first hurt it, I was playing this game of I'm going to rest it, it's going to get better, I'm going to try to get out and compete right away. I wasn't physically ready in other ways because I've taken time off and then I've hurt something else.

Dealing with a new things, having to take time off again, having to try to get back to competing, not feeling really 100% ready. When you're sometimes getting beat when you feel like you're not totally prepared physically or mentally, it starts to hurt your confidence a little bit. It can be really frustrating.

After the tournament in Switzerland, I knew I needed a timeout, needed some time to get an adequate training block in. That's been something that's been really important for me. That's something that gives me confidence. I have a really strong work ethic. I put a lot of hours on the court, I put a lot of hours in off the court, physically, mentally. I needed to be able to have that space to kind of improve, go back to the drawing board with my serve. Yeah, just really needed like a training block.

It's so hard with the way our schedule is to fit in those training weeks. I think that's something I need to kind of improve at, spacing out how many events I play, just trying to still figure out what works best for me in terms of scheduling.

Q. You mentioned the break of serve being a focus point for you. What was your game plan going in?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Tried to mix up my service position, like, on her return. I guess return position. Just trying to stay back a little bit. Sometimes take time away from her. Just kind of give her some different looks so I didn't become too predictable where I was standing.

Yeah, just trying to time the ball well, especially when she's hitting like 115 miles an hour serves. If you don't time it well, it's not going to go so well (smiling).

I just really needed to kind of lock into that, try to read her toss a little bit. I'm just, yeah, really happy with how I returned.

Q. Given all of the things you mentioned, your performance in Australia this year, do you feel this could be a propulsive win for you?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I guess we'll find out (smiling). We'll find out soon. Yeah, hoping that I can continue the momentum. Hopefully this gives me some confidence knowing that I can beat someone like Naomi and compete hard after not having any matches going into it. So yeah, I'm hoping for that.

Q. How did Australia change things coming into here? Did it change your confidence and mentality?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, to be honest, not really because, like, when I made finals in Australian Open, I didn't play any warmup tournaments. That gave me a lot of confidence. I was thinking my best results in slams have been when sometimes I don't play a warmup tournament. I made quarterfinals of the French back in 2020. Didn't play any clay court tournaments that year before. Just went out and felt really good. I guess it works for me sometimes.

I don't know if I'll stick with it, but we'll see (smiling).

Q. In this tournament, players are allowed to get advices from the box. I don't know if you used it today or if you find any advices helpful. Did you get some advices from the box? Are you pro this rule?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, to be honest, the only thing I can really hear from my team is the c'mons. I was trying to listen in a couple of those moments. It's really hard to hear because the court is so spread out.

I think it's great that they can coach from the sidelines. I think when they can come out onto the court, I think that's a little bit tougher actually to get like a lot of valuable information because it's so quick and you got to mic up, you're trying to figure out where to enter the court, there's a lot of variables.

I prefer it from the sideline. I think it's valuable to the players. I just wish I could hear a little better.

Q. How difficult is it to take time off the calendar, knowing you'll be missing out on points while training?

DANIELLE COLLINS: I mean, listen, I love competing, being out there. I'll be really honest. When I had my time off, I'm kind of like enjoying life and having a lot of fun at home, enjoying being with my dogs and my family and my friends, being able to go lobster fishing, being able to enjoy some things I normally don't get to enjoy when I'm on the road.

I enjoy every second of it. If I had more opportunities to take some time off, to be honest I probably would. I love being out there and competing, but I think having breaks and being able to live normally, not living out of a suitcase every single week, being in a new place. It's really fun, I'm grateful for my job, but I do like my time at home.

I always say if I could work from home somehow with this job, I would, so...

Q. When did you start lobster fishing?

DANIELLE COLLINS: I live in Florida, so fishing is a big thing. My dad used to be a commercial fisherman. I love being on the water. It's something I've done my whole life.

I got to go down to the Keys for the first time this year. It was awesome. I'm hoping we can go back. I love lobster. I feel like when you're a kid, when people say, What's your dream meal? Steak and lobster. It's kind of fun when you can catch it yourself.

Q. Have you been following Serena's journey here, if you watched the match, what your thoughts are about this moment?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I mean, to be honest, I knew it wasn't over for Serena yet. I had full confidence in her. So I was enjoying dinner with my coach and my boyfriend and his fiancée. I just kind of knew I was going to get to see her play again so I had full confidence. We followed along a little bit at the dinner table.

But I would like to hopefully be there for the next one. Hopefully whenever her last match is, I'd love to be able to kind of celebrate that. I think as everybody knows, I've idolized Serena and Venus my whole life, they've been people I've really looked up to. This is such a big moment in our tennis history. I love how our sport celebrates our champions of the game. Hopefully, yeah, I don't have to play Serena at some point because I'll be so torn.

Q. Have you ever encountered Naomi or her sister as a kid in Florida?

DANIELLE COLLINS: To be honest, I don't think so. There's a handful of players that I did cross paths with a lot. But, no, I don't think so. I think Naomi is a little younger. Her sister might be a little closer in age to me, but I don't think so.