Being a professional athlete isn’t just about training hard and winning games—it often means confronting uncomfortable and even disturbing experiences behind the scenes.
Danielle Collins, one of the standout names in American tennis, recently shared a deeply personal and upsetting story that sheds light on the darker side of the sport that fans rarely see.
A Podcast Revelation With a Disturbing Memory
While chatting on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Collins, now 31, opened up about a disturbing incident that happened early in her career.
At a time when she was still adjusting to life on tour, she recalled a chilling moment involving a cameraman who crossed a serious line.
She had just wrapped up a long, exhausting three-set match. She was dealing with muscle cramps and mentally drained.
As she made her way off the court, a cameraman approached her in what seemed like a gesture of sympathy.
“He said, ‘Oh Danielle, I’m so sorry. Can I give you a hug?’” she remembered.
Looking to her coach and feeling unsure but polite, she agreed.
That’s when things took a horrifying turn.
A Hug That Turned Into Something Invasive
“I was standing there, and he comes in to hug me.
Then suddenly, he tries to kiss me—like really kiss me,” she revealed.
“He literally started making out with the side of my face.”
Collins was shocked and disgusted, left feeling powerless in a moment where she was already physically depleted.
It wasn’t just the kiss. It was the larger pattern of behavior that women in sports silently deal with.
“People don’t see what happens behind the scenes. They don’t hear the inappropriate comments.
They don’t know about the creepy guys who show up at our events and follow us back to our hotels,” she said, admitting that it eventually pushes many to a “boiling point.”
Speaking Out Against the Silence
Collins has never shied away from speaking her mind, and that has occasionally put her under a harsh spotlight.
One of the more notable moments came during her ongoing rivalry with World No. 3 Iga Swiatek.
The two clashed at the Paris Olympics, and after Collins had to retire mid-match due to an abdominal injury, tensions rose.
After that match, Collins criticized Swiatek, saying she felt the Polish star had been disingenuous.
“A lot of people act differently when the cameras are rolling,” Collins told reporters.
“I don’t need the fake sympathy.”
Her remarks led to backlash online, with some tennis fans accusing her of being too confrontational or difficult.
Embracing Labels and Turning Them Around
But Collins isn’t fazed by criticism—especially the kind that tries to reduce strong women to offensive stereotypes.
“When someone calls me a b***h, I take it as a compliment,” she said confidently.
“The women I admire most have been called that too. They’re the ones who make things happen. They’re assertive, determined, and they don’t let anyone walk over them.”
She believes that being unapologetically yourself—especially as a woman in a male-dominated field—is something to be proud of.
“It shows you’re not afraid to speak up or stand your ground. You’re okay with not being liked, and that takes real confidence.”
What’s Next for Collins?
Danielle Collins may be nearing the end of her professional tennis journey, but her voice is only getting stronger.
Whether she’s sharing the ugly truths that often get swept under the rug or refusing to conform to the “likable” image expected of women in the spotlight, she’s proving that standing tall—and speaking out—isn’t just brave.
It’s essential.
And as she continues to speak up about personal battles like endometriosis, misogyny in sports, and harmful stereotypes, one thing is clear—Collins is much more than an athlete.
She’s a force.
