Danielle Collins bit back with a shameless moneybags boast after she was triggered by a booing crowd at the the Australian Open.
The US player beat hometown favourite Destanee Aiava by two sets to one in the second round of the Grand Slam down under. Collins was forced into a fight at Melbourne’s Kia Arena before claiming a 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-2 victory in two hours and 25 minutes. But the crowd were unhappy with her antics and showboating during the match – where at one point she told he crowd to “shut up” – and took it even further by goading the crowd post match.
The former Australian Open runner-up clinched her match point and copied WWE star Hulk Hogan by cupping her ear to the crowd, shouting “how about that?”. She then blew sarcastic kisses towards the grandstand and slapped her backside, drawing louder boos.
But she was not done there as she had a few choice words for the hostile crowd during the on court post match interview. Collins secured a £237,000 prize for winning through to the third round. She has earned nearly £12.3million in her career despite never having won in Australia, Wimbledon, French Open or the US Open.
“Yeah, Destanee…” she began before stopping and taking the microphone from the presenter to resume speaking. “I was thinking during the match, I was like, if I’m out here I may as well just take that big, fat pay cheque. Coco (Vandeweghe) and I love — we love — a good five-star vacation. Part of our cheque is going towards that. So thank you, guys, thanks for coming out and supporting us tonight. Thanks everyone! Thank you guys, love ya.”
She doubled down in her post match press conference stating: “Every person that bought a ticket to come heckle me, it’s all going towards the Danielle Collins Fund. Bring it on.”