Fed-up Miami Open star battling disease makes sexism argument after constant questions

Danielle Collins has argued that a male player wouldn’t have to field as many questions as she does after being probed about her upcoming retirement. The world No. 53, who has rheumatoid arthritis, is set to end her career this year. For now, she is enjoying success at the Miami Open after reaching the semi-final.

Collins has equalled her career-best run in Miami by reaching the semis. The 30-year-old is now looking to reach her first WTA 1000 final in what is her final year as a professional tennis player. Back in January, the American announced that she would be retiring at the end of the season.

She has since fielded multiple questions about her decision and is now getting fed up with having to justify it. The former Australian Open finalist was asked whether her good run would make her U-turn on her retirement call. And Collins raised the argument that she wouldn’t have to explain herself as much if she was a guy.

“You know, I find it so interesting, because I kind of felt like when I was announcing my retirement, everyone has been so, like, congratulating me and so excited for me, but then on the other hand, I feel like I have had to justify my decision a lot,” the former world No. 7 said. “I feel like if I was a guy, I probably wouldn't have to justify it that much.”

Collins also raised the point that she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. She first made the revelation at the end of 2019. And she explained that the disease had other effects on her life which informed her decision.

The two-time title winner continued: “I think it's really interesting how in a lot of different situations I have had to kind of justify the reasons behind retirement. I'm living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant, and so that's, like, a deeply, like, personal situation. I've kind of explained that from time to time.

“Yeah, I think it's a good question, but I think at the end of the day, like, my choice, like, this is my personal choice. This is so much more to do than just tennis and my career. I'm enjoying my career. I'm having a lot of fun. I love coming out here and competing. But at the end of the day, like, this is a really big, like, life decision, and yeah, I think that that should be, like, pretty understandable, yeah.”