Tennis

Danielle Collins, the world No. 9 tennis star, has announced her decision to postpone her retirement plans and continue competing in 2025. The announcement came as a surprise to many, as Collins had previously stated her intention to retire in 2024.Collins' decision stems from her ongoing health struggles with endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She had hoped to start a family after retiring, but her fertility journey has not progressed as expected."Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing," Collins wrote in a social media post. "It is just going to take longer than I thought."Despite her health challenges, Collins has enjoyed a successful 2024 season, winning back-to-back WTA titles at the Miami Open and Credit One Charleston Open. She also reached the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and made her debut on the U.S. Olympic team.Collins' decision to postpone her retirement has been met with support from the tennis community. Many fans and fellow players have expressed their admiration for her resilience and determination."I'm so happy for Danielle," said former world No. 1 Serena Williams. "She's a fighter, and I know she'll continue to achieve great things on and off the court."Collins will kick off her 2025 season at the United Cup ahead of the Australian Open. She hopes to build on her momentum from 2024 and continue playing until she has more certainty around her personal fertility journey."The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches," Collins wrote.

Danielle Collins' disappointing season continued on Wednesday night as she suffered a fourth consecutive defeat, this time to a 152nd-ranked qualifier at the Guadalajara Open. Australia's Olivia Gadecki, who has been in impressive form at the WTA 500 event, defeated the No. 2 seed 6-3, 6-3.Gadecki, 22, dropped serve just once and broke Collins four times throughout the match. The American, who is playing her final season on tour, missed a valuable opportunity to move up the leaderboard in the race to the WTA Finals. She currently sits in eighth place, but is on the outside looking in as Barbora Krejcikova, ranked two places behind, earns an automatic spot as a 2024 Grand Slam champion to the eight-competitor field if she finishes inside the Top 20.In other action at the Guadalajara Open, Camila Osorio pulled off a tremendous comeback to oust seventh-seeded Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 7-5 in a marathon three-hour and 21-minute match. Osorio, who was down 0-5 in the deciding set, stormed back to secure the victory.Kamilla Rakhimova also advanced to the quarterfinals after Victoria Azarenka retired from their encounter with a shoulder injury. Rakhimova was leading 6-2, 3-0 at the time of the retirement.

Iga Swiatek, the world's top-ranked tennis player, has advanced to the semifinals of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, overcoming a resilient Danielle Collins in a thrilling three-set encounter.Swiatek, who won her fourth Roland Garros title just over a month ago, dominated the opening set, breaking Collins' serve twice to take a commanding 6-1 lead. However, Collins, who is making her Olympic debut and plans to retire at the end of the year, fought back in the second set, winning 6-2 to level the match.In the deciding set, Swiatek regained her composure, breaking Collins' serve twice to take a 2-0 lead. Collins, visibly frustrated and hindered by physical discomfort, called a medical timeout. Upon returning to the court, she struggled to continue and ultimately retired, handing Swiatek a 6-1, 2-6, 4-1 victory.Swiatek's victory sets up a semifinal clash with No. 6 seed Zheng Qinwen, who earlier in the day defeated former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber. Swiatek must reach the final to guarantee a medal, but her impressive performance against Collins has significantly improved her chances of leaving Paris with a podium finish.Collins, who has been in excellent form since announcing her retirement plans, gave Swiatek a stern test, particularly in the second set. However, Swiatek's resilience and ability to raise her level in crucial moments proved too much for the American.Swiatek's victory is a testament to her dominance on clay, a surface on which she has won all four of her Grand Slam titles. She is now the overwhelming favorite to capture a maiden Olympic gold medal in her second Olympic appearance.

At Wimbledon, American Danielle Collins' Wimbledon run came to an abrupt end in the round of 16 against Barbora Krejcikova. Collins, seeded 11th, suffered a left leg injury while trailing 1-3 in the second set, forcing her to seek medical attention. Upon returning to the court, she lost the next two points and ultimately the match 7-5, 6-3.The match marked a disappointing conclusion to Collins' impressive 2024 season, which included a run to the semifinals of the Australian Open. Despite her injury, Collins expressed her admiration for Wimbledon's rich history and traditions.Krejcikova, seeded 31st, advanced to her first Wimbledon singles quarterfinal, becoming the first Czech woman to reach the last eight since Petra Kvitova in 2014. She praised Collins' fighting spirit and acknowledged the challenges posed by her opponent's aggressive playing style.The contrast between Collins' and Krejcikova's styles was evident throughout the match. Collins' powerful groundstrokes and vocal on-court presence contrasted with Krejcikova's more subtle and varied game.Krejcikova's next opponent will be Jelena Ostapenko, who has won five of their seven previous encounters. The match promises to be another intriguing clash of styles, with Ostapenko's aggressive baseline play facing off against Krejcikova's versatility and court coverage.

Beatriz Haddad Maia, the Brazilian tennis star, has emerged as a formidable force on grass courts, despite the common misconception that clay is her preferred surface. With two grass-court titles under her belt since 2022 and an impressive 21-10 record on this surface, Haddad Maia is poised to make a deep run at Wimbledon.While Danielle Collins has enjoyed a successful season, her game is less suited to grass than other surfaces. Her aggressive style can lead to rushed defense and serve inconsistencies. Despite her impressive break percentage, the low-bouncing grass courts favor servers, making it difficult for Collins to rely solely on her returning prowess.Haddad Maia, on the other hand, excels in these conditions. Her career hold percentage on grass is a remarkable 79.7%, significantly higher than her overall hold percentage of 68.4%. Her ability to maintain possession of the ball gives her ample opportunities to win points.Moreover, Haddad Maia's baseline aggression matches Collins's, but she possesses superior defensive skills and a keen understanding of point construction. As one of the top volleyers in the women's game, Haddad Maia frequently approaches the net, a significant advantage on grass.The oddsmakers may be underestimating Haddad Maia's chances against Collins, as the match is closer to a 50-50 proposition. Her grass-court prowess, combined with Collins's potential struggles on this surface, make Haddad Maia an enticing underdog pick at +155 odds.

The 2024 US Open is still a distant prospect, but the betting world is already buzzing with anticipation. While Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the current favorites, there are several other players who could emerge as contenders.Coco Gauff (+500)Gauff's game is not ideally suited for the slick grass of Wimbledon, so a disappointing performance there could make her odds for the US Open more attractive. Despite her struggles against Swiatek, Gauff remains a formidable opponent, especially with the home crowd behind her.Danielle Collins (14-1)Collins has enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, winning the Miami Open and reaching the second round at Roland Garros. Her powerful game is well-suited for hard courts, and she could be a threat to the top seeds. However, she will need to avoid facing Swiatek or Sabalenka in the early rounds.Madison Keys (25-1)Keys has a proven track record at the US Open, reaching the semifinals in 2023. Her serve, return, and baseline power make her a dangerous opponent on hard courts. With a potential run at Wimbledon, her odds could improve even further.Marta Kostyuk (66-1)Kostyuk has had a solid season in 2024, reaching two finals and making deep runs at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Despite her high hard-court Elo rating, she is ranked below many other players in the odds. This could present a value opportunity for bettors willing to take a chance on her.Other ContendersIn addition to the players mentioned above, several other players could make a run at the 2024 US Open title. These include Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, and Elena Rybakina. The tournament is still months away, and injuries or other factors could impact the odds. However, these players are all worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.

Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old American tennis sensation, will lead the U.S. team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gauff, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will be joined by a formidable team of Jessica Pegula (No. 5), Danielle Collins, and Emma Navarro in women's singles. The men's team will feature Taylor Fritz (No. 12), Tommy Paul (No. 13), Chris Eubanks, and Marcos Giron.Gauff, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a COVID-19 infection, is a rising star in the tennis world. She is the reigning U.S. Open champion and has reached the semifinals at the Australian and French Opens this year. Gauff is also a formidable doubles player, having won the French Open doubles title with Pegula this month.Pegula, a 30-year-old veteran, is returning to action after a neck injury that forced her to miss the French Open. She was a singles quarterfinalist at Roland Garros in 2022. Collins, a 29-year-old who has announced this will be her final season on the tour, has won two titles this year and reached the final of the Australian Open in 2022.The U.S. team also includes six first-time Olympians, including Navarro, who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros this year. In the men's competition, Fritz is the highest-ranked American, followed by Paul, Eubanks, and Giron. Paul and Giron competed at the Tokyo Games.The U.S. will also send 40-year-old Rajeev Ram to his third Olympics. Ram, who has four major doubles titles, will be paired with Austin Krajicek in Paris. Fritz and Paul will also join forces in doubles. The USTA will announce one mixed doubles team for Paris at a later date.The American team will be looking to improve on its performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where it won one gold medal in mixed doubles. The U.S. has a strong history in tennis at the Olympics, having won 21 gold medals in singles and doubles combined.

Danielle Collins' Roland Garros journey came to an end in the second round as she fell to Olga Danilovic in a thrilling three-set battle. The American, who announced her retirement plans earlier this year, had been a dark horse contender for the title after a strong clay-court season.Collins, seeded 11th, started the match strongly, taking the first set in a tiebreaker. However, Danilovic, a Serbian qualifier, fought back to win the second set 7-5. The third set was a tense affair, with Collins serving for the match at 5-3. But Danilovic broke her serve and won six straight games to secure the victory.The match lasted over two hours and 35 minutes, and Collins called a medical timeout in the third set to address a possible neck or shoulder injury. Danilovic, a talented left-hander, has struggled with injuries and inconsistencies in the past but is now enjoying a resurgence in her career.Collins' retirement plans have been met with surprise and disappointment from fans and fellow players. However, the American remains firm in her decision, citing her desire to start a family and advocate for those who share her well-documented health struggles.Despite her retirement announcement, Collins has continued to play at a high level this season, winning titles in Miami and Charleston. She also reached the final in Strasbourg last week. Her impressive form has led to calls for her to reconsider retirement, but Collins has held firm.Danilovic's victory over Collins is one of the biggest of her career. She will now face Donna Vekic in the third round, with a chance to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time.

American tennis stars Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins made impressive starts to their Roland Garros campaigns on Monday, securing straight-sets victories in the first round.Gauff, the No. 3 seed and last year's runner-up, dominated qualifier Julia Avdeeva 6-1, 6-3 in just 53 minutes. The 20-year-old showcased improved serve consistency, hitting only four double faults and winning 86% of points behind her first serve."I just had to play solid today," Gauff said. "I think my serve is getting better match by match, and I'm pretty confident now with it."Gauff will face dangerous qualifier Tamara Zidansek in the second round, a player she acknowledges as a "fighter" with strong ball tolerance.Meanwhile, Collins, the No. 11 seed, defeated countrywoman Caroline Dolehide 6-3, 6-4 in 85 minutes. The 30-year-old, who has announced her retirement from the tour in 2024, has been in excellent form since winning the Miami Open in March.Collins struck 27 winners and broke serve three times against Dolehide. She will now face Olga Danilovic in the second round, a rematch of their third-set tiebreaker at the Mutua Madrid Open last month.Collins' best result at Roland Garros is a quarterfinal run in 2020, where she defeated former champion Garbiñe Muguruza and then-No. 30 seed Ons Jabeur.