'No One Changing Her': Coco Gauff Outlines Why She Respects Danielle Collins
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Danielle Collins, one of the fiercest competitors on the WTA Tour, caused controversy during the recent United Cup. However, in a recent press conference, her Team USA teammate Coco Gauff was complimentary of the 31-year-old.
Gauff featured at the United Cup for the first time at this year's iteration. She had started the two previous seasons at the ASB Classic in Auckland, winning the title on each occasion, including a final triumph last year against Elina Svitolina.
Although Gauff's absence was noticeable, the 2025 ASB Classic was still enjoyable. Naomi Osaka reached her first final in almost three years at the event but had to retire after the first set against Clara Tauson.
Gauff thrived in her first appearance at the United Cup. The WTA Finals champion won all her singles and doubles matches to help Team USA set up a final meeting against Iga Swiatek's Team Poland.
In the opening singles match of the final, Gauff produced a sublime performance to overcome Swiatek. It was her second consecutive win against the four-time French Open champion after losing 11 of their first 12 meetings.
Taylor Fritz's narrow victory against Hubert Hurkacz sealed the title for Team USA. Despite that outstanding success, some focused more on what Collins' did while the teams shook hands before the final.
Collins directed furious words at Swiatek after retiring from their 2024 Olympic quarterfinal with an injury. Last year's Miami Open champion accused the world No. 2 of being insincere and not really caring about her physical problem.
Despite Collins saying afterward that she wanted to move on from the incident, Team USA's No. 2 singles player did not look Swiatek in the eye during their handshake at the United Cup and then changed her Instagram profile picture to the expression she used in that moment.
Collins was criticized by some, who believed it was actually her being insincere about wanting to move on from the Olympic incident. However, Gauff described in an Australian Open press conference why she likes Collins.
"I think for me being on the team Danielle was just so fun and brought the best energy. She was sick the first week, but once that was all cleared up she brought great energy on the bench. She's been fun, and I think, I don't know, maybe more relaxed now."
"I obviously knew her just because it's Danielle Collins, but I didn't know her well. She always struck me as someone who didn't like to talk as much, but when I got to know her I realized it was quite the opposite."
While Collins' attitude splits opinion among tennis fans, Gauff admires how authentic her compatriot is. The world No. 3 says anyone who knows Collins understands what she means by the phrase "Danielle is going to be Danielle."
"I think she's a nice person. I always say 'Danielle is going to be Danielle' and there's no one changing her and she doesn't care either and that's something I respect, when someone knows who they are. But on the bench she brought the best and energy and she was super nice and honestly kind of critical in some of those tough moments."
"Just being her, authentically herself. If you know Danielle Collins you know exactly what I'm talking about. Being authentically Danielle, I have no other way to phrase it, but if you know, you know."
