Danielle Collins hits back after she had to make ‘strange’ request during Emma Raducanu clash
Danielle Collins has condemned the criticism she received after she had to make a “strange” request during her match against Emma Raducanu in Strasbourg.
The American took on the British No 2 in the second round of the WTA 500 event and midway during the deciding set Collins got up from her bench during the changeover and took aim at the cameraman who was standing too close to both players.
“I need to get water. We’re on a changeover. You don’t need to be that close to me, and you don’t need to be on top of Emma,” she said.
“It’s like wildly inappropriate. It’s not that difficult to give space. I’m sorry.”
The reaction to her comments went viral with some praising the former world No 7 while others lambasted her.
Following her first-round win over Jodie Burrage at the French Open, Collins was again asked about the incident and she gave a “frank” response.
“I think what happened in Strasbourg was just me asking for personal space at my workplace,” the reigning world No 54 said. “I don’t know why that is even a topic of discussion, frankly. I mean, it should be something that we can get to have during, like, our work.
“The fact that I’ve had to ask so many different times in my career and during different matches to just have an adequate level of personal space I think is kind of strange.
“I think often times it seems like my response is treated like the offense itself. I’m learning that as a female, asking for personal space seems to be an issue for a lot of people. I think it’s really pathetic honestly that it’s even a topic of discussion.”
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Raducanu was standing during the incident, but footage showed that the cameraman was right next to the British player.
Collins continued: “It’s something that over time there’s been no one that’s been able to kind of make the adjustment. In the video, there’s so much that people don’t see.
“They don’t see the person go and stand right on top of Emma to get a good shot of me in about a two-to three-foot space.
“I’m doing a performance job, trying to focus on my work, trying to maintain my focus and concentration.
“My job requires channelling physical, emotional, and then logical, right, things going on. It’s my job to try to put that all together. The last thing that I should be focusing on is someone that’s right on top of my opponent and right in my face.
“It’s really unnecessary, too, especially with the capability that we have with technology. I mean, I feel like we can get a good shot and maybe, like, have a little bit more distance between each other.”
