Danielle Collins falls in first round of final US Open, still alive in doubles

NEW YORK—Danielle Collins fell in the first round of what is set to be her final US Open, bowing out to fellow American Caroline Dolehide, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The No. 11 seed confirmed in January that 2024 would be her final season on tour and entered both women’s singles and doubles with partner Caroline Garcia. Playing only her second match since sitting out most of the summer hard-court swing due to an abdominal injury, Collins failed to convert a set and break advantage on Louis Armstrong Stadium and lost after two hours and 40 minutes.

"I think I had 12 days off, minimal preparation kind of going into it," she said to open her post-match press conference. "I did my best. That's all I could do. There were times that I had some good shots, and there were times that it didn't go my way, but I think overall Caroline played, you know, very well and was running down a lot of balls. So all credit to her."

I think a lot of us, we dedicate our whole lives to it: to the sport, to the travel, you give up a lot of life experiences, other life experiences for your career...it was a sacrifice I think that paid off, and I'm happy that I did it. But yeah, looking forward to other things that I'll get to be able to participate in that I haven't. Danielle Collins

She left court without what appeared to be a planned on-court tribute in line with what was done for the soon-to-be retired Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman.

"I had requested not to have any presentation on the court," she clarified. "I’ve struggled with feeling guilt around success, and that's something I have had to work on. So I'm not great, honestly, at having, like, an all-about-me moment. I feel like I've gotten enough attention to last a lifetime.

"I was kind of thinking of that movie, I think it was "Meet the Parents" or "Meet the Fockers," where, you know, Gaylord has a shrine and all his 18th-place medals," she added with a laugh. "I don't want to be like Gaylord, so I think I'm good."

Leading up to the US Open, Collins, a former world No. 7 had been one of the most in-form players on tour, riding a 15-match win streak to back-to-back titles at the Miami Open and Credit One Charleston Open. She reached a clay-court WTA 1000 semifinal at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and the quarterfinals of her debut at the Summer Olympic Games.

But after retiring in the last eight against eventual bronze medalist Iga Swiatek, the 30-year-old announced she would be sitting out the National Bank Open and Cincinnati Open due to a rectus abdominis injury, one that she explained had previously sidelined her for over four months over four years ago.

“Obviously I don’t want to have a repeat of that,” Collins wrote in an Instagram post. “As I am approaching the end of my career, it has been important to try and rest and recover so that this can heal as quickly as possible.”

Collins returned to action at the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, where she lost in three sets to Erika Andreeva before arriving in Flushing Meadows for her ninth main-draw appearance at the USTA Billie Jean King national Tennis Center.

Taking on Dolehide for the fourth time in two years, Collins had never lost to her countrywoman and posted a straight-sets victory just three months ago at Roland Garros. She won the first set in 33 minutes and won a marathon fourth game en route to take a set and a break advantage.

Collins struggled to find the court from there and despite saving three set points in a row in the 10th game, struck a total 30 unforced errors to find herself playing a deciding set.

Dolehide converted the first break of the third and forced Collins to save two match points but nerves crept in as Collins put on a brave last stand, breaking to put the contest back on serve.

But errors continued to plague Collins and Dolehide was up match point once more, converting as Collins missed long off the forehand side.

Collins, who will play her first round in doubles later this week, has suggested she would retire at the end of the season, and is still in contention to qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.