Featured Image Credit: @AustralianOpen/X
Topics: Sport, Australia, World News
Joe Yates
'Sports needs villains', 'she gagged them so bad', 'elite troll', were just some of the responses to a tennis star goading the crowd as they booed her.
The world number 11 Danielle Collins, of the US, fended off Destanee Aiava in front of a crowd who were all very much behind the 24-year-old Australian as she played in her home city at Melbourne Park yesterday (January 16).
For the entire two-hour-and-25-minute match, Collins was jeered as she took on the final Australian left in the tournament during their second round bout, and as the 31-year-old claimed victory, she shocked the crowd through a 'vulgar' gesture to those booing.
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Taking to Twitter, the account for the Australian Open posted the short clip of Collins teasing the crowd after clutching the win. Captioning it: "Little bit of prime 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan about Danielle Collins post match!"
Yes, the WWE Hall of Famer would have been proud as she repeatedly shouted 'How 'bout that!' while gesturing to the crowd that she wanted to hear them cry, before blowing kisses and then after she walked behind the umpire she then kissed her hand and slapped her bum - as if to say 'kiss my ass'.
A little bit of crowd teasing is brilliant to watch, but people were divided over her actions.
One bitter Twitter user commented: "The gasp was because we have manners down here unlike dumb, rude, brash Americans. Let’s see how she goes when she’s soundly beaten in the next round."
While another typed: "Danielle Collins is an [American] legend. Watching her antics is a great reminder why I love being an [American]."
And a third wrote: "She gagged them so bad when she told them to kiss her ass…you could hear the collective gasp."
But not all Aussies were against her goading, one person suggested it was actually good for the sport - with tennis famously being considered a 'gentlemen's sport'.
One person penned: "I'm Australian. I have no dramas with this. Thought her villainy was awesome & tennis can do with these characters... well done Danielle. Come again & go even harder!"
A second questioned: "How can anyone’s reaction to her be anything but to laugh?! Like girl is COMEDY."
"Elite troll. Sports needs villains," added another.
Collins beat world number 165 Aiava by 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2, and at one point even turned to one fan to shout 'shut up' as the Australian Open bids to attract non-traditional audiences to its matches - meaning more drunk fans.
After the game both Collins and Aiava explained how much they enjoyed playing in such a rowdy arena.
“I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on. It just motivates me even more, so it’s kind of a good thing, especially when I’m not playing that well," Collins said.
She added: "I think there were a lot of people that were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves and were really excited."
While Aiava also said: "It was very different, I think we could use a little bit more of that in tennis."