Danielle Collins beats Emma Raducanu, tells off too-close cameraman in Strasbourg

Danielle Collins pulled off a second three-set win of the week at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, the 2024 finalist rallying to defeat Emma Raducanu, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

“I think it’s more rewarding when you win a tough match versus one that was easy,” Collins said on court after the match. “A lot of times when you win easy, it’s just about how bad the other player played, right? So, it’s better if it can be a little bit close to come out with these wins.”

The former world No. 7 shook off losing a long game late in the third and, fired up by a too-close-for-comfort cameraman, reeled off the final three games of match, knocking out the 2021 US Open champion in two hours and 21 minutes.

“I knew playing Emma, I would have to play my aggressive game style,” she said, “and the more that I did that, I think I was able to kind of stay in control of the points and really push her. She played really well and gave me some challenges but I just kept going after it.”

Collins is in the midst of an encore season after initially planning to make 2024 her final year on tour. She made up for a delayed start to her red-clay swing with a big win at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, dethroning defending champion Iga Swiatek in straight sets en route to the fourth round.

I’m not meek and mild. I’m not someone that is going through life quietly...I know what it takes to succeed, and at this level, you have to compete...It’s about bringing the energy, showing positive emotions, sometimes showing negative emotion and being upset with yourself, but then trying to work through those moments. Danielle Collins

Unseeded in Strasbourg, she battled past in-form fellow American Sofia Kenin in the first round to book an intriguing clash against a resurgent Raducanu, who enjoyed a fourth-round run of her own at the Foro Italico just last week.

Raducanu opened her Strasbourg campaign with an impressive upset over No. 6 seed Daria Kasatkina, and edged through the opening set over Collins before finding herself on the back for in the second, later calling for an injury timeout.

Collins looked to consolidate a break advantage early in the decider but Raducanu kept battling, leveling the set at three games apiece. Collins stepped in to break right back and spent the ensuing changeover standing up for herself and Raducanu, imploring a encroaching cameraman to step back as they attempted to rehydrate.

“We’re on a changeover,” she told the cameraman, who was stationed between the two players. “You don’t need to be that close to me and you don’t need to be on top of Emma. It’s wildly inappropriate.”

Spurred on by the incident, Collins roared through the match’s conclusion, breaking once more to clinch the win in just under two and a half hours.

“I think to be good at anything, self-expression is really important. There’s not too many successful people in the world that feel like they can’t be themselves. I think you have to be yourself, and I’m a competitor at the end of the day. I’m not meek and mild. I’m not someone that is going through life quietly, and I want to succeed. I know what it takes to succeed, and at this level, you have to compete and this is what competing is about. It’s about bringing the energy, showing positive emotions, sometimes showing negative emotion and being upset with yourself, but then trying to work through those moments.

“I think it can be hard in the world that we live in today because of the noise and because of the things that people say and people do, and criticism and this and that. But at the end of the day, if you go out and try to be yourself, compete hard and do the best you can, good things to happen.”

Awaiting the American in the last eight will be Anna Kalinskaya, who turned the tabled on top seed Jessica Pegula to advance in three sets.