BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 11, 2022

Danielle Collins

Emirates Arena

Team USA

Flash Interview

M. VONDROUSOVA/D. Collins

6-3, 6-3

Team Czech Republic - 1

Team USA - 0

Q. A tough one. I know you guys have played a few times. What about her game gives you trouble maybe out there?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, you know, she's a lefty, so a little unorthodox at times with her spin. Yeah, I think it's end of the year, and, I mean, I don't think that I played my best today physically. Hopefully next time I play her I don't have an allergic reaction before. That's what I'm hoping for.

Q. Coming into the match, you did start pretty well in the first set, up 3-1. Did you kind of feel like you were able to overcome the adversity you came in with, at least from the start? Did something change?

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I mean, I think she got a lot of confidence after coming back when I was up in the first set 3-1, and I think she kind of took that confidence and ran with it and was going for her shots a lot.

I think my timing sometimes was really off unfortunately, and I think I had a little bit of some challenges getting adjusted to the speed of the court here, and along with her being a lefty it just threw a lot of trouble my way.

Yeah, I also felt at times I was setting up the points well and the way that I wanted to and just couldn't close them out, so that was, you know, frustrating and disappointing. But, you know...

Q. You split your two matches here. Just another week being able to play Billie Jean King Cup. I know you like these weeks and you kind of relish being able to play on a team for your country. Just your overall takeaway from your experience here.

DANIELLE COLLINS: Yeah, I mean, I think we have had such a great group of girls on the team. It's been really a full circle for me in my career to, you know, be playing on a team with Maddie and Taylor since we have known each other and been friends for so long.

This is also like one of the best groups that I have played with. Not just like their talent on the court, but I think everybody on the team has been such great people. At the end of the day, that's kind of what we all remember is the good times that we had.

You know, it's been really inspiring too to watch someone like Coco and see how far she's come with her career, as well. You know, I have only known Coco for a few years, but it's been really inspirational, everything she's done. I love the doubles that her and Caty played the other night. It's been really good getting to be on the team with some young players, and they are giving me some inspiration.