Tensions boiled over on court between tennis firebrands Maria Sakkari and Danielle Collins on Wednesday night, as a bitter verbal spat erupted between the pair.
Greek player Sakkari, the world number eight, was taking on the American world number 48, Collins, in round two of the Montreal Open in Canada.
Collins, a qualifier, had already beaten former world number three Elina Svitolina in the first round, and ended up defeating Sakkari in straight sets, 6-4 6-2. She will face Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the third round.
The incident happened midway through the second set, when Sakkari whacked the ball into the crowd in frustration after serving a fault.
Sakkari immediately raised a hand to apologise. But Collins was not amused.
“Did you just see that? Did you see what happened?” she asked the chair umpire.
“It didn’t even hit anybody. I used to be on the bottom,” Sakkari protested.
“Shut your mouth. Shut your mouth,” Collins shot again.
“What is your problem? I didn’t hit anyone. I framed the ball and it-” mentioned an more and more agitated Sakkari.
“You hit the ball into the stands, Maria. You almost hit someone,” interjected Collins.
“I didn’t hit anyone! What is your problem? I framed the ball,” mentioned Sakkari.
At that time, the umpire calmed the pair down and play continued.
Collins is finest recognized to Australian tennis followers for reaching the ultimate of the Australian Open in 2022, which she misplaced to native favorite Ash Barty.
That efficiency elevated her into the WTA’s high ten – although she has endured a tough time on courtroom ever since, which has seen her rating endure.
Her journey to the ultimate of a grand slam was all of the extra spectacular given she had surgical procedure the 12 months earlier than for endometriosis, a debilitating sickness affecting about one in ten ladies, during which causes tissue that usually traces the within of the uterus to develop outdoors it.
“I think I certainly feel a lot freer just not having to deal with the symptoms that I used to deal with, that not being a continuous issue that I’m dealing with on a daily basis,” she mentioned after reaching the Australian Open decider.
“I think aside from surgery, I’ve gotten a lot physically stronger over the last couple of years. My strength and conditioning, my fitness, it’s been one of the most important areas of my training and focuses.
“That has transferred over to my tennis, the way that I’m able to play physically with my serving. My stamina on court has improved tremendously. I think just overall power and speed has improved.”
Collins has additionally needed to battle rheumatoid arthritis, a persistent situation that causes irritation and swelling in joints. She began therapy for it in 2019.
“I feel like before (surgery for endometriosis) and before I was on proper medication, I was always having to adjust my training around my cycle because of how painful my periods were,” she mentioned.
“And now with things being more consistent, I’m able to kind of train more consistently and not have to have, you know, such drastic changes, especially the week of my cycle.”
Collins, who at one stage in 2021 needed to resort to underarm serves as a result of the ache was so extreme, mentioned she didn’t understand how her physique would reply to the surgical procedure.
“I think any time you’re going to have a surgery like I had, I think any athlete would find it less than ideal knowing how your body is going to recover after that type of surgery,” she mentioned.
“It’s extremely painful and scary, because there is a lot of important things in life that you learn about during those surgeries.”
Source: www.news.com.au
