Watch: Danielle Collins booed by Australian Open crowd after ‘bum slap’ celebration

On By Littum

Danielle Collins walks onto the court at Rod Laver Arena before her third round loss to Madison Keys

Danielle Collins walks onto the court at Rod Laver Arena before her third round loss to Madison Keys – Getty Images/William West

Danielle Collins was repeatedly booed by the Melbourne crowd as she lost in the third round Australian Open to Madison Keys.

The American created controversy with her reaction to the crowd during her second round victory over home favorite Destinee Aiava.

After coming through in two sets, Collins kissed and patted the home fans on the back before holding her hands to her ears and thanking them for helping her land “a big fat pay cheque”.

And the locals clearly hadn’t forgotten her antics, with Collins looking a little taken aback when she was booed when she appeared at the Rod Laver Arena for her clash with fellow American Keys.

The boos continued at various intervals during their match, with Collins requiring treatment on a knee injury before falling 6-4, 6-4.

There was a brief pause during the match when a spectator proposed to his partner in the stands, with Collins clapping as she said “I do”.

Collins had been backed by some players for her attitude, with Novak Djokovic – who has taken similar tactics in the past – praising her for doing so.

“I loved her response… everything she said on and off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it,” he said.

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Credit: X / @TheTennisLetter / @eurosport

Collins had not held back after her victory over Aiava, thanking the fans who had booed her for contributing to the “Danielle Collins Foundation”.

“Well, I’m going to be here for two hours and put up with all these people, I might as well take the bigger pay check, right?” Collins said.

“I was super happy to do it, and one of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people who don’t like you and who hate you, they actually pay your bills.

“It’s kind of a cool concept, and of course my professional career isn’t going to last forever, and I just remind myself every day when I have things like that, they pay my bills.

“Every person who bought a ticket and came out here to fool me can do what they do. It all goes to the Danielle Collins fund. So please, yes, bring it, I love it.”

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