On a record-breaking day for attendance at Melbourne Park, world No. 11 Danielle Collins faced a rowdy and jeering crowd during her win over local favorite Destanee Aiava, as boisterous and often intoxicated fans made their presence felt at the Australian Open, a tournament known for its typically respectful atmosphere.
The raucous treatment seemed to rattle Collins, who at one point shouted “shut up” to a heckling fan during her tense 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 victory. She also responded to the crowd with playful taunts, blowing kisses and slapping her bottom in celebration after her win.
Despite the tense interactions, Collins was among several players who embraced the energy of the crowd rather than condemning it. With tournament organizers aiming to attract a broader, more diverse audience, players like Collins, along with the popular “Special Ks” duo of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, have welcomed the livelier, more engaged atmosphere.
“I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on,” Collins said after her win. “It just motivates me even more, so it’s kind of a good thing, especially when I’m not playing that well.”
Aiava, whose mother played for the Australian rugby union team, shared her enjoyment of the lively crowd, comparing the atmosphere to a rugby league match. “It was very different, I think we could use a little bit more of that in tennis,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, the “Special Ks” had to withdraw from their first-round doubles match due to Kokkinakis’s pectoral injury, trailing by a set to fellow Aussies James Duckworth and Aleks Vukic. Still, they managed to entertain the John Cain Arena crowd for over an hour, with Kyrgios even serving before an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant had finished.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who battled past local wildcard Tristan Schoolkate in four sets, also praised the passionate crowd, saying, “It’s great for tennis, no? I think the goal should be to make tennis as big as possible.”
Despite the enthusiasm, the tournament has seen frequent attempts by umpires to control the noise, particularly between first and second serves. During a match between Jack Draper and Kokkinakis, chair umpire Marijana Veljovic had to repeatedly plead with the crowd for quiet, urging them to “respect the players.”
Crowds have turned out in droves for this year’s Australian Open, with a record 95,881 attendees passing through the gates on Thursday, surpassing the single-day record set last year. Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley noted that the event offered five times as many activities as in 2024.
However, the tournament’s expansion of alcohol offerings has drawn some criticism, particularly with the addition of bars near key courts. Collins acknowledged that her match atmosphere was influenced by alcohol, noting, “I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves.”
After his five-set victory over home favorite Kokkinakis, Draper was asked if the crowd was the “worst” he had ever experienced. “People say Davis Cup in Argentina or something like that, when they’re whistling and laughing in between [points],” he said. “I think it’s the best atmosphere I’ve been in almost, for that [kind of experience]. I think it was fun to be a part of, to be fair.”
Collins, ever the pragmatist, ultimately brushed off the heckling, noting that the fans—whether cheering or jeering—are still paying her bills. “Every person that’s bought a ticket to come out here and heckle me or do what they do, it’s all going towards the ‘Danielle Collins fund,’” she quipped.
