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Danielle Collins’ Untimely Retirement Justified by American Tennis Legend Who Was No.1 for 268 Weeks

Published 03/30/2024, 5:35 AM EDT

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Danielle Collins brought a shocking twist to the tennis world. Even though she is doing quite well on the sporting front, she took the tough call of making a retirement by the end of the 2024 tennis season. While there are a lot of debacles going on regarding whether it’s the right decision or not on the American tennis player’s front, the 71-year-old American tennis player, Jimmy Connors recently backed her decision with his unique perspective.

The former world number one dwelled on how there is a beautiful life ahead of tennis, standing by Collins in her decision. While he clearly highlighted how tennis is just an important part of her life and how she better knows, what is good for her life other than her sporting passion.

“do what’s best for your life” – Jimmy Connors backs Danielle Collins’ retirement decision

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In a recent podcast, Jimmy Connors backed Collins’ decision to leave tennis behind and grow in other parts of life. He said, “Life is better. And in you, you do what’s best for your life. I mean, tennis is, has been a, I’m sure a very important part of her life and the way she’s played it the way she’s, you know, trained and tried to be as good as she can be, you know that but, you know, life is life.” 

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As someone who has been a part of the tennis arena for almost more than two decades and even today is connected with tennis in one way or another, Connors has lived a life in which he has prioritized tennis from time to time being the number one for 268 weeks. He stated, “And long after tennis is over, you know, you have a long time to live, hopefully, you know, and, and, eventually, and I just go back to my feelings.” 

Further, he also shared good wishes for the 30-year-old American tennis player as she has reached the Miami Open finals, which will be played against Elena Rybakina. While the former 7th-ranked tennis player is quitting tennis at the end of the year anyway, she has her own reasons to look away from tennis.

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Collins reveals the reason behind her retirement call 

Collins has been quite open about her health problems, and during the Miami Open, she was asked about the reason behind making such a big call, even after carrying good form on the court. She also highlighted that she loves coming out and competing, but it’s a huge life decision, and she has other plans to move forward with.

She stated, “I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant. That’s a deeply personal situation. I’ve explained that from time to time. At the end of the day, this is my personal choice. This is so much more than just tennis and my career. I’m enjoying my career. I’m having a lot of fun.” In addition, the American player is also quite happy with the decision she has made regarding her career and her life.

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Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Collins’ retirement? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri