By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 2, 2024
Danielle Collins has needed to cope with all forms of challenges throughout her illustrious enjoying profession. Now that the 30-year-old former World No.7 is asking it a profession on the finish of the season the Florida native says there may be one kind of problem she will be able to’t wait to cease dealing with: coping with stalkers.
Although it doesn’t prefer to broadcast it, tennis has a regrettable historical past with stalkers. There was Monica Seles’ notorious stabbing by a wicked Steffi Graf fan in 1993, in addition to a person who was handed a five-year restraining order for stalking Emma Raducanu and sending her undesirable items.
The 35-year-old man was captured on digicam at her doorstep two years in the past. Think about what that might do to a youngster who’d favor to be centered on her tennis? “Since all this has occurred, I’ve felt creeped out. I really feel very apprehensive if I’m going out, particularly if I’m alone,” Raducanu instructed police in a press release. In one other incident a person who had adopted Serena Williams throughout a number of nations was arrested at Wimbledon when he tried to interrupt into the grounds to get near her.
I sat with Danielle Collins at Hyde Park for an hour forward of her closing #Wimbledon
What she gained’t miss on tour? “The stalkers.”
It was a dialog that highlighted how a lot could be happening for gamers off the court docket. Actually admire her candour:
— Molly McElwee (@molly_mcelwee) July 1, 2024
“I don’t assume it’s one thing that will get talked a few ton, however many people have had safety points throughout our time enjoying on tour. I had a couple of totally different conditions over time. It’s by no means enjoyable, the sensation of wanting over your shoulder,” Collins instructed the Telegraph in an unique interview from London this week.
The American, who’s enjoying her final Wimbledon on this her final season (she’s up a set in a suspended first-round match with Dane Clara Tauson as of the top of Day 2), says that she’s hesitant to be in giant teams of followers and continuously depends on safety to make sure her security.
“Social media does open up so many alternatives for us to attach with followers, on the identical time it generally provides entry to people who find themselves actually unwell and never in an excellent psychological head house,” Collins instructed the Telegraph. “It does make you a little bit extra cautious and sceptical. I nonetheless to today have a extremely exhausting time after I get boxed in giant teams of individuals, I really feel scared when followers come working at me, throw issues or contact me due to a couple of scary conditions I’ve skilled.”
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