Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 2, 2024
Danielle Collins He had to face all kinds of challenges during his epic performance. Now that the 30-year-old former World No.7 is calling it a career at the end of the season, the Florida native says there’s one type of challenge he can’t wait to stop facing: dealing with anglers.
Although it doesn’t like to broadcast it, tennis has a sad history with stalkers. There was the infamous stabbing of Monica Seles by a rogue fan of Steffi Graf in 1993, and a man who was given a five-year restraining order for stalking Emma Raducanu and sending her unwanted gifts.
The 35-year-old man was caught on camera on his doorstep two years ago. Imagine what that would do for a young person who would like to focus on their tennis? “Since all this has happened, I feel like I’m hiding. I feel very scared when I go out, especially when I’m alone,” said Raducanu in a police statement. In another incident, a man who was following Serena Williams in many countries was arrested at Wimbledon when he tried to break in to approach her.
I sat with Danielle Collins in Hyde Park an hour before her last game #Wimbledon
What can not be missed on the trip? “Stalkers.”
It was a conversation that highlighted how much happens to players off the pitch. I am very grateful for his honesty:
— Molly McElwee (@molly_mcelwee) July 1, 2024
“I don’t think it’s something that’s talked about a ton, but most of us have had safety issues while playing on tour. I’ve had a few different situations over the years. It’s never fun, the feeling of looking over your shoulder,” Collins told the Telegraph in an exclusive interview in London this week.
The American, who is playing her last Wimbledon in her final season (she is at the top of her first-round tie with Dane Clara Tauson late in Day 2), says she doubts being in the big fan base. and he often relies on security to ensure his safety.
“Social media opens up a lot of opportunities for us to connect with fans, at the same time it sometimes gives access to people who are not well and not in a good state of mind,” Collins told the Telegraph. “It makes you more cautious and skeptical. To this day I still have a hard time when I get punched by groups of people, I get scared when fans come running to throw me or touch me because of the few scary situations I have faced.”
