After defeating Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open 2024 on Tuesday, February 6, Danielle Collins reflected on her retirement plans.
Collins navigated a challenging path to reach the main draw of the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi, coming through the qualifiers to face Osaka in her opening match. She capitalized on four break points against Osaka, securing a convincing 7-5, 6-0 victory and setting up a clash with Elena Rybakina in the next round.
Following her triumph on Tuesday, Collins revisited the retirement decision she made following her disappointment at the Australian Open.
She had announced her intention to retire at some point during the 2024 season. However, Collins expressed positivity about approaching the final chapter of her career and relief at having set a timeline.
“I feel like I’m in good form, even though it’s my last year. I feel like I needed an end date. I’ve enjoyed my time on tour and had fun and gotten to have some amazing experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she shared during an on-court interview.
Despite her impending retirement, Collins remains focused on achieving her remaining goals.
“Right now, it’s not over yet. I’m still competing and battling, I’m working at it. I still have some goals I want to accomplish. It was nice to have an end date because, you know, the grind of the tour,” she elaborated.
