Grand Slam finalist in shock retirement U-turn as cruel health issue forces star to delay ‘ultimate dream’
DANIELLE COLLINS has announced a shock U-turn in her retirement plans.
The tennis star, 30, confirmed she was planning to hang up her racquet at the end of the 2024 season.
World No9 Collins revealed starting a family was "one of her biggest goals outside of tennis".
And amid struggles with endometriosis - which can affect fertility - she opted to call time on her tennis career.
But she took to to tell fans of her change in plans after a set-back in her hopes of having a baby.
As a result, until she has further clarity around her personal hopes, Floridan Collins will continue to play on the circuit.
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Collins - who previously had a "tennis ball-sized" cyst removed from her ovary - wrote to her 234,000 followers: "Hi everyone, I’ve been a little MIA the last few weeks so I want to give everyone an update.
"It’s been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida, and on top of it I’ve been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges.
"While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into my next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned.
"In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family.
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"Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought.
"So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025.
"While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.
"Thank you to all of my fans and the amazing people behind me that have been so encouraging during this time and also to my closest friends on tour that have been supporting me every step of the way."
Collins had her best Grand Slam result when she reached the 2022 Australian Open final, losing to Ash Barty, and became the American No1.
In what was supposed to be her swansong season, Collins won the biggest title of her career at the Miami Open then reigned at Charleston.
She also reached the semi-finals in Rome as well as the quarters in Qatar and at the Olympics.
Collins bowed out in the fourth round at Wimbledon - her best result at the All England Club - but was knocked out in round one of the US Open, what she thought was going to be her final Major.
But now she will spend the short off-season preparing for her next year on tour - and has been named on the USA's United Cup team to kick off the new season in Australia from December 27 to January 5.
World No45 Caroline Garcia expressed her delight at seeing her friend stay on the tour.
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The Frenchwoman wrote on her story: "See you in 2025."
Collins replied: "Another year of the best times off court and at our practices."
Wimbledon ditching line judges a double fault for British tennis
By Joshua Jones
THE absence of line judges at Wimbledon will be a sad sight.
For as long as I can remember, the men and women decked out in their Ralph Lauren outfits have been part of the furniture at the All England Club.
Yes, they provided some mild entertainment on the court when one would call "fault" with plenty of extra, and unnecessary, gusto and volume that boomed around Centre Court, prompting a snigger from the fans.
Then there was the ongoing game of dodgeball they had to play when a big serve nailed a mammoth ace down the line and they had to take rapid evasive action or take a whack to the top of the head.
And challenges provided some audience participation, excitedly joining in the clapping countdown before the inevitable "oooh" when the graphic showed just how close the ball was to landing in or out.
Purely objectively, Wimbledon's decision to replace line judges with Hawk-Eye Live makes total sense.
The accuracy and consistency of calls in real-time will speed things up, save time and should mark the end of arguments over the tight incorrect calls - well, until the technology malfunctions.
And Wimbledon's hand was somewhat forced to ditch tradition for their standing in tennis.
The Australian Open and US Open already use electronic line calling and the ATP Tour is adopting Hawk-Eye Live across all of its tournaments from 2025.
Wimbledon's refusal to comply would leave them lagging behind and exposed to the threat of needless controversy over human error.
But the impact - as is so often the case in these decisions - has ramifications further down, below the surface with very little impact on Wimbledon's Championships or the players.
It is on the line judges themselves.
Approximately 300 officials - aged from 18 to 80 - covered more than 650 matches at Wimbledon.
A fraction travel internationally with the circuit but the vast majority of those are part-time line judges based in the UK, earning up to £180 per day to work at the prestigious tournament and their chance to play their part at Wimbledon.
For many, they will help out at British tournaments throughout the year, spurred on by the possibility of taking to the lawns of the All England Club.
But it is understood many of those officials would be reluctant to work at the lower-level tournaments without the carrot of Wimbledon dangling in the summer.
That in turn will put a major stumbling block in the pathway for British tennis umpires, who grind up through the ranks to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Like football with referees, tennis needs umpires and line judges.
So the inability to call "out" at Wimbledon could prove to be a major "fault" for the future of the UK's tennis officials and therefore the state of the sport on these shores.