Danielle Collins to Gift Novak Djokovic Merch After His Public Support
Danielle Collins has promised to send Novak Djokovic some of her merchandise after the Serbian star backed her outspoken stance on money in tennis. The American has never shied away from discussing financial matters in the sport, recently making headlines during the Australian Open with her candid remarks.
Following her exit from the tournament, Collins stirred controversy by stating that her “big fat paycheck” from Melbourne would fund a “five-star vacation.” Her comments sparked debate, especially after her on-court antics, where she playfully blew kisses and slapped her posterior following a victory over home favorite Destanee Aiava.
Rather than backing down, Collins has embraced the buzz and channeled it into a new collaboration with the sportswear brand Richsport. She recently unveiled a collection featuring a bold slogan: “Play Tennis, Cash Checks, Repeat.” The gear has quickly become a signature look for Team Collins, with members of her camp spotted wearing the t-shirts at Indian Wells.
When asked about her latest venture, Collins revealed she’d be more than happy to gift Djokovic a piece of the collection.
“I obviously made some bold statements and got a lot of conversation going around women’s tennis and just women being able to talk about money,” Collins told Tennis.com. “We were able to play around with the design choices and messaging to come up with something that was really true to me and my personality.”
She added: “I haven’t seen Novak this tournament yet, but I will definitely be gifting him some merch.”
Djokovic Praises Collins’ Unfiltered Approach
Collins’ comments resonated with Djokovic, who openly supported her during a press conference, even declaring himself a “big fan.”
“I loved her response. I loved everything she said on the court and off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it,” Djokovic said. “I don’t think I would be that polite, but then I know exactly the feeling. So, I think she was funny, smart.”
Collins Off to a Strong Start in Indian Wells
Meanwhile, Collins kicked off her Indian Wells campaign with an impressive comeback victory over Hailey Baptiste, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Her next challenge will be a showdown against 23rd seed Elina Svitolina, scheduled for 6 p.m. GMT on Sunday.
