American tennis player Danielle Collins has announced that she will be postponing her retirement from the sport and returning to the WTA Tour in 2025, CNN reports.
Collins, who announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024 season in January, cited a combination of health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis, and her desire to start a family. However, in a Thursday post on social media, she revealed that her retirement plans have been put on hold.
“In addition to managing some lingering health challenges the past few months, I’ve recently been seeing a handful of specialists to better understand what my best path forward is to achieve my ultimate dream, starting a family,” she said.
Collins went on to explain that her journey with endometriosis and fertility has been a challenging one, but she is confident in the team she is working with.
“So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion,” she continued. “I will be back on tour in 2025. While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches.”
Collins’ announcement comes after a remarkable year in which she defied the odds and achieved some of her greatest career successes despite her health challenges. Following her announcement in January, Collins went on to win the prestigious Miami Open and the Charleston Open in back-to-back weeks, climbing back into the world’s top 10 after falling as low as No. 71 in February.
Despite her recent first-round losses at the US Open and in subsequent tournaments, Collins remains a force to be reckoned with on the court. She has been named to the USA’s United Cup team, which will begin competition on December 27.
