Danielle Collins has reversed her decision to retire from professional tennis following the conclusion of the 2024 season, much to the delight of her fans. Despite grappling with significant health challenges, the 30-year-old American star has confirmed that she will continue competing on the WTA Tour in 2025. Collins’ journey has been filled with both personal and professional highs and lows, and her announcement to extend her career reflects her resilience and passion for the sport. However, she also candidly acknowledges that her ongoing battle with endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting her fertility, has complicated her plans to start a family, and the process is taking longer than she initially anticipated.
Earlier this year, Collins shocked the tennis world when she announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2024 season. Her decision was driven by a desire to focus on her health, specifically managing endometriosis, which had long caused her significant pain and discomfort. Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, can severely affect fertility, and Collins had been open about her dream of becoming a mother. In January, she made it clear that her priority was to address her health concerns and pursue family life after finishing her tennis career. At the time, the 2024 season was expected to be her swan song.
Yet, as the season unfolded, Collins experienced a remarkable resurgence on the court, which ultimately shifted her perspective. The American had some of the best results of her career in 2024, capturing her first-ever WTA 1000 title in Miami and following it up with another title in Charleston. She also reached the final in Lyon and was a semifinalist in Rome, amassing a career-best 13-match winning streak along the way. Her performances catapulted her back into the top 10 of the WTA rankings, earning her the world No. 9 spot.
Despite her success, Collins remained firm in her retirement plans whenever asked throughout the year. However, after her name appeared on the entry list for the 2025 United Cup, speculation grew that she had reconsidered. That speculation was confirmed when Collins took to Instagram to explain her decision to continue her career and provide an update on her health situation.
In her heartfelt post, Collins admitted that her health issues, particularly those related to endometriosis, have not progressed as she had hoped. She wrote: “Hi everyone, I’ve been a little MIA the last few weeks so I want to give everyone an update. It’s been a stressful time with these horrific hurricanes that wiped through Florida, and on top of it, I’ve been dealing with some issues around my endometriosis and other health challenges. While I was very excited and eager to wrap up my tennis career on a high note this year and jump headfirst into my next chapter of life, things have not gone as planned.”
Collins went on to explain that after working with a team of specialists, she has come to terms with the fact that her journey to starting a family will take longer than anticipated. “I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family. Dealing with endometriosis and fertility is a massive challenge for many women and something that I am actively traversing, but I am fully confident in the team I am working with. It is just going to take longer than I thought,” she added.
This revelation has opened the door for Collins to continue playing tennis, at least for the foreseeable future. “So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025. While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.”
For many, this announcement marks an unexpected but welcome twist in Collins’ career. She had seemed ready to hang up her racket after a challenging end to the season. Injuries, including an abdominal strain, forced her to retire during her Paris Olympics quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek, and she later struggled with early exits in Monterrey, Guadalajara, and the US Open. Her first-round loss at Flushing Meadows, where she fell to fellow American Caroline Dolehide, was particularly disheartening, as there were hopes she could make a deep run in her home Slam.
After her defeat in New York, Collins admitted to dealing with various distractions, both on and off the court. “I have honestly just had so many distractions away from the court. Just going through life’s challenges and coping with it,” she said during her press conference at the US Open. At the time, she also hinted that she was mentally preparing for retirement, ready to embark on the next phase of her life.
However, as the season progressed, Collins’ repeated responses to retirement questions grew more frustrated. She opened up about her health condition, expressing frustration that some people were not respecting the seriousness of her situation. In a candid statement in May, Collins explained: “In a press conference a few days ago someone said ‘what could change your mind?’ I found myself once again explaining how I have had multiple surgeries and seen multiple medical professionals. I’ve been advised by doctors that my pregnancy journey should begin as soon as possible, given the severity of my endometriosis. Through this experience I have found most people aren’t very empathetic to the struggles others go through.”
Collins’ decision to continue playing reflects both her love for tennis and her realistic outlook on her personal goals. While her dream of becoming a mother remains at the forefront, she has come to terms with the fact that the path to motherhood may take more time than initially expected. In the meantime, fans of the sport can look forward to seeing the fiery American back on the court in 2025, where she hopes to build on the momentum of her outstanding 2024 season. As Collins continues to balance her health, career, and personal aspirations, one thing is clear: her journey, both as an athlete and a person, is far from over.