Danielle Collins is enjoying a career-best run at Wimbledon. The world No. 11 is through to the second week for the first time and takes on Barbora Krejcikova.
But this will be her final outing at the All England Club as Collins will retire this season no matter how well she does.
The American is going out with a bang, winning her biggest title in Miami earlier this year and returning to the top 10. But she has already explained why nothing will change her mind.
Collins announced her retirement at the beginning of the season in Australia. The 30-year-old has two chronic health conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, which have heavily influenced her decision.
The four-time title winner has been open in discussing the fertility issues that could arise as a result of her health. And she wants to retire so she can start a family with her boyfriend Bryan Kipp while she still can.
But she has faced constant questions over whether she will reconsider, especially when she won the Miami Open in March. “No, I’m not [reconsidering retirement]. Thank you, though. I feel like all of these questions are coming from such a good place, because I feel like a lot of people would like to continue seeing me play well,” she said.
“But like I said, I have some health challenges, and with those health challenges, it makes things for me away from the court a little more difficult. I hope everyone can respect that. It’s a very emotional and personal thing. Yeah.”
Ahead of the French Open, Collins explained why it hurt to be interrogated for her decision. “Some people are quick to give their input and advice when they don’t really know what you are going through,” she wrote in a BBC column.
“I’ve been very vocal about something that is deeply personal and that a lot of people do not want to talk about. The only thing I have asked is people to respect my decision. I would like there to be a higher level of conversation about the awareness of endometriosis. It’s an issue that can affect my life on a very deep level.”
Collins is hoping that her honesty about her condition will help others who suffer from endometriosis. And she is also ready to give up life on the tour for her home comforts.
In her column, she added: “Some research estimates up to 30-50 per cent of women with endometriosis experience infertility, and time isn’t on my side either. I have a smaller window available to get pregnant and to make sure that hopefully happens. I’m also introverted and like to be at home mostly.”
It would make it extra special if Collins could go all the way at Wimbledon this year and lift her maiden Grand Slam title before retiring. But don’t expect her to change her mind, even if she does something as extraordinary as going unbeaten for the rest of the season.
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