Retirement Announcement and Health Challenges
American tennis player Danielle Collins announced in January 2024 that she will retire at the end of the 2024 season. She made the decision because of her health problems, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, and her desire to start a family. However, over the course of a few months, Collins said her health challenges have pushed her retirement plans back a bit.
“I’m very excited to finish my tennis career and move on to the next chapter, but things haven’t gone according to plan right now,” Collins said. She has visited several specialists to understand more about her health, as she wants to fulfill her biggest dream in life, which is to start a family. Women face a lot of difficulties in terms of pregnancy and fertility, especially with problems like endometriosis, she explained.
Achievements Despite Adversity
Endometriosis is a serious disease in which the lining tissue of the uterus grows outside. This can cause a lot of pain to women and the condition can also be challenging to conceive. Collins has had many successes in her tennis career while dealing with these health issues. In March and April of 2024, she won the Miami Open and the Charleston Open in two consecutive weeks, making her return to the top 10 in the world rankings. Earlier, she slipped to 71st in February.
Future Plans and Continued Career
Collins explained that she had thought about retirement, but now her plans have changed. Her plans have been slightly delayed due to her health and pregnancy, so she will be back on the WTA Tour in 2025. She said she will continue playing until she has more certainty about her personal fertility journey. She has assured her fans that there will be some more exciting matches during this period.
In her 2024 season, Collins had some great performances, but she suffered first-round losses in the three events that followed the Paris Olympics. That includes her home US Open. However, she is still looking forward to the upcoming season and believes that she will make a comeback in 2025 and will also try to fulfill her personal life dream.