"Why on earth!?" Top-seed Danielle Collins expresses frustration towards the audience following her surprising loss to Erika Andreeva at the Monterrey Open.
Andreeva, the elder sibling of the 17-year-old tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva, secured an outstanding 1-6 6-3 6-3 triumph against a top-20 player, marking her first career victory over such a high-ranking opponent.
However, the match's turning point occurred during the third set, while Collins waited for Andreeva to serve. Hearing some noise from the crowd, Collins raised her arms and demanded an explanation from a section of the spectators: "What in the world?"
She continued, "I don't understand. It's not that difficult to let us play tennis and, well, cheer us on."
Collins, ranked 11th worldwide, announced her retirement at the end of the season at the tender age of 30. She has battled numerous health issues throughout her career, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, making the upcoming US Open her final grand slam event.
Collins had a spectacular final season on the tour, achieving career milestones such as winning her first WTA 1000 event at the Miami Open in March and following up with a victory at the Charleston Open in April. She received a free pass into the second round in Monterrey, while Andreeva, 20, needed to secure a victory in straight sets against Anhelina Kalinina. She will now face Lulu Sun or María Lourdes Carlé in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez suffered a defeat against qualifier Ana Bogdan in the first round of the Cleveland Championships. Bogdan, ranked 103rd globally, staged a remarkable comeback, overturning a 1-6 loss in the first set to win 7-6(2) 6-2. Fernandez, seeded 2nd with a world ranking of 24, struggled with 11 double faults in a sloppy performance. Despite serving for the match with a 5-4 lead in the second set, Fernandez failed to hold her serve, eventually losing in a tiebreak.
Andreeva's victory over the top-20 player showcased her passion for sport, particularly tennis, as she demonstrated resilience and determination on the court. Additionally, Collins mentioned her love for tennis in her retirement speech, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to play the sport she loved despite the challenges she faced.
