Danielle Collins’ Defiance Earns Novak Djokovic’s Praise as Fellow “Fan Fighter”
Photo credit: Hannah Peters/Getty
Grand Slam tennis often feels like a jungle of fierce competition, and Danielle Collins’ bold responses to a rowdy Australian Open crowd have gained her a devoted supporter in Novak Djokovic.
After her fiery 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 win against Australia’s Destanee Aiava in the second round, Collins faced jeers and boos from the crowd. In defiance, she cupped her hand to her ear in a “let me hear it” gesture, blew kisses to the audience, and humorously patted her backside, signaling “kiss my butt.”
“The people that don’t like you actually pay your bills,” Collins quipped in her post-match press conference. “Anyone who bought a ticket to heckle me, it’s all going toward the Danielle Collins Fund.”
Little bit of prime “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan about Danielle Collins post match!#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/nyusDgt3PP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
Djokovic, no stranger to handling hostile crowds, expressed admiration for Collins. “I loved her response,” Djokovic said after his win over Tomas Machac. “Everything she said on and off the court—I’m a big fan. She handled it really well.”
Both Djokovic and Collins share reputations for confronting adversity with fire and humor. The Serbian star recounted his own intense exchange during the 2024 AO, where a heckler hurled profanities during his match against Alexei Popyrin. Djokovic walked to the back wall, stared the fan down, and challenged him to repeat the insults face-to-face.
“When someone crosses the line, I won’t tolerate it,” Djokovic explained. “People pay for tickets, and they want a show. That’s fine, but I won’t be a verbal punching bag.”
Tennis legend John McEnroe praised Djokovic’s ability to thrive under hostile conditions, calling him “the greatest I’ve ever seen” at overcoming adverse audiences. “Novak uses that as fuel, and it’s incredible to see,” McEnroe said.
“Don’t poke the bear” 👀
Novak Djokovic responds to a member of the crowd looking to get under his skin 🍿 pic.twitter.com/1S9wQxwemg
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 17, 2024
As Djokovic gears up for the next round and Collins continues to fight with unapologetic flair, the duo demonstrates that fiery determination and humor are powerful tools against crowd adversity.
#DanielleCollins #NovakDjokovic #AO2025 #TennisDrama #GrandSlamFire #FanFuel #TennisLegends