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.