Top 10 seed Danielle Collins has taunted the Melbourne crowd after her second-round win over Australian qualifier Destine Aiava.
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The American defeated Aiava 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2 in a three-set epic at Show Court Arena on Thursday night, and consistently engaged with the Melbourne crowd throughout the match.
At one point she told the crowd to “shut up” after members cheered a double fault.
After winning the tense match, the 31-year-old gestured to the crowd while pointing to her ear; suggesting they may have been unfairly targeting her throughout the night.
Unsurprisingly, her actions created a roar of boos around the arena as she shook the hand of Aiava and the chair umpire before her just as bizarre on-court interview saw her flaunt a third-round pay day.
“I might just take that big fat pay cheque,” Collins began her on-court interview by saying amid loud boos.
“Coco (Gauff) and I love, we love a good five-star vacation. So part of that cheque, is going to go towards that.
“So thank you guys, thanks for coming out here and supporting us tonight.”
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Singles players who make it through to the third round are given $290,000 AUD for the achievement; a $90,000 increase from what they would otherwise get for exiting int he second round.
There was spice all throughout the clash on both sides at Show Court Arena, with Aiava at one point throwing her racquet in disgust at the back end of the first set.
Collins made the Australian Open semi-final in 2019, before getting whipped by Czech star Petra Kvitova one match away from the big dance.
Speaking further in her official post-match press conference, Collins continued her long list of references to holidays and money.
“Me and my group of girlfriends love a five-star vacation. I can guarantee you that check is going to go towards our next five-star trip, hopefully to The Bahamas,” Collins bragged.
“We like big boats, we like big boats, we like yachts. We’ll post about it, let you guys know how it goes.”
The Flordia-born player talked tennis after her ‘big boat’ references, believing that the crowd’s reaction towards her was on the back of alcohol and a lack of self-control.
“I think they really wanted her to win badly. I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves … (they) were really excited,” Collins said.
“All I have to say, is good luck pissing somebody off or getting under the skin of somebody that doesn’t (care).
Collins will play fellow American Madison Keys in the third round on Saturday.
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