Collins became a pantomime villain at Melbourne Park on Thursday when she said fans who heckled her were contributing to the “Danielle Collins Fund” and she would use her prize money on a trip to the Bahamas.
Facing Keys, cheers erupted when Collins committed her first double fault, and at the end of the first set, the referee reminded the crowd to respect both players.
But Collins, who also suffered a knee injury and had to take a medical break, said it was important to “bring some entertainment” to the sport.
“I don't have a big ego when it comes to these things, and I don't care what someone sitting in their basement writes about me,” she added. “I'm just trying to enjoy my life and have fun.
“You can't please everyone. Earlier in my career, I was more concerned with what people thought and I was more careful about my personality.
“Maybe with age comes an attitude of just being yourself and accepting who you are. I'm proud of myself, I've gotten to the point where I don't really care anymore what people who aren't important to me think.”
Collins will now be making this trip to the Bahamas and added, “A lot of my friends have asked if they will be invited on the yacht.”
