Collins dumped out of Australian Open to boo

Danielle Collins smiles as she rests between matches (WILLIAM WEST)

Danielle Collins smiles as she rests between matches (WILLIAM WEST)

Danielle Collins faced a bit of booing as she walked in and out of the arena in losing 6-4, 6-4 to fellow American Madison Keys at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Collins, 31, became the pantomime villain at Melbourne Park on Thursday when she sarcastically thanked hecklers for “paying my bills” after she defeated home hope Destanee Aiava in the second round.

She also blew kisses to the fiercely partisan crowd, sat by their ear and even pointed at their backs.

“Every person that bought a ticket to come out here and fool me or do what they do, it all goes to the Danielle Collins Fund,” she said.

Collins smiled as she received a mixed reception when she walked out onto Rod Laver Arena, center court, for a third-round meeting with Keys, the 19th seed.

The cheers went up when 10th-seeded Collins made her first double fault.

At the end of the first set, the chair umpire reminded fans to respect both players.

Collins required a medical timeout at 4-3 down in the second set and had heavy bandages put on her left leg.

A half-empty stadium mostly cheered for both players at the end, although several boos followed Collins out of the stadium.

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