Blowing Kisses

Opinion

Blowing Kisses

“If I’m out here I might as well take that big fat paycheck.” - American Danielle Collins after her third round win at the Australian Open.

For context, Collins had just finished playing the ultimate away game. Her opponent, Melbourne native Destanee Aiava, had 99% of the crowd behind her for their two and a half hour battle.

Moments after shaking hands with Aiava, the Florida native mocked the crowd that had cheered against her all night. She blew kisses at each side of the stadium and even spanked her butt, to which she received a chorus of boos.

During her press conference she also said, “It kinda motivates me even more. I think it helped me in the end [tonight]. Helped me concentrate more. And challenged me at times. It’s funny, the people that hate you actually pay your bills.”

When I first saw Collins blow kisses to the crowd and delight in mocking them, I thought it was unprofessional. Childish. Not a good look for our sport. But as I reflected on her words and performance, I realized there was something profound about the way she handled the moment. Collins provided a rare glimpse into the mind of a top-tier athlete.

Consider this: Collins had 5,000 people rooting against her. They erupted to her opponent’s success and celebrated her unforced errors. The emotional swings, the nerves, and the sheer energy required to stay focused in such an environment would break many players. And yet, she found a way to not only endure but thrive.

Collins channeled the negativity into fuel. She reframed the crowd’s hostility, and turned heckling into motivation. It wasn’t just defiance—it was mental strength on display. She didn’t waste energy resenting the reality of the situation. Instead, she accepted it, processed it, and used it to bring out her best tennis.

So while her antics definitely lost her some fans, she proved that’s okay (if not better) for her. She’s happy for them to keep paying her mortgage.

xoxo

AO Trivia

Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a staggering 10 times. Which female player has lifted the trophy the most in the Open era?

A. Serena Williams

B. Steffi Graf

C. Evonne Goolagong

D. Monica Seles

Bonus points if you know exactly how many she has.

Find out at the bottom!

Meet the Player

Leylah Fernandez

From: Canada 🇨🇦

Best Slam Result: Final (US Open 2021)

Career High Ranking: 13

Fun Fact: Loves molten lava chocolate cake. Me too Leylah. If it’s not molten, I’m sending it back.

Game Analysis: The 5’ 6” maple leaf packs a punch. Fernandez hugs the baseline and throws everything she’s got into her backhand. She pairs incredible timing with lightning fast foot speed, and a bit of craftiness in the form of a backhand slice. That said, her short stature doesn’t help her get any free points on serve.

Career Prediction: Fernandez made a dream run to the US Open final in 2021 at just 19 years old. While I don’t think she’s got the firepower to repeat that success, she’ll finish in the top 50 for many years to come.

In Case You Missed It

Headlines from Around the Tours

🤩 Remember this name: Learner Tien. The 19 year old American made a dream run in Melbourne, making it to the round of 16, and beating former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev along the way. The lefty became the youngest player to make it that far in Australia since Rafael Nadal in 2005. He’s clearly a (dare I say it), quick learner.

✌🏽 Cahill calling it quits. Last week, Jannik Sinner confirmed that 2025 will be his last season with legendary coach Darren Cahill, and that he will be the last player Cahill coaches. Since adding the Aussie to his team in July 2022, Sinner has ascended to the top of the game faster than Nadal’s answer to “what’s your favorite surface?” Cahill will exit the stage with a decorated LinkedIn profile — in addition to Sinner, he worked with World No. 1s Andre Agassi, Simona Halep, and Lleyton Hewitt.

Memes

Answer

A. Serena Williams

The GOAT herself Serena Williams hoisted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup 7 times. And don’t forget, she won it in 2017 at 8 weeks pregnant.