Danielle Collins Explains 2026 Australian Open Absence as She Undergoes Fertility Procedures

Danielle Collins has not competed in a tour-level event since August 2025.

Danielle Collins Explains 2026 Australian Open Absence as She Undergoes Fertility Procedures

Danielle Collins (Image via X/We Are Tennis)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Danielle Collins has shared a comprehensive update regarding her physical status and professional plans heading into the 2026 season. The 2024 Miami Open champion has maintained a low profile since August, which led to speculations about her retiring definitively from the sport.

The American star didn’t have a good 2025 season despite claiming some big wins. After claiming some big ranking points in 2024, defending them this season became a serious burden to her, which saw the 32-year-old win just 18 of her 34 matches on tour. She also dropped outside the Top 40 of the WTA rankings.

Currently ranked 67th in the World, she didn’t enter the Australian Open, which is the only Grand Slam she has reached the final at, which was shocking. There were rumors that the 2022 Australian Open finalist was thinking about quitting the sport, having planned to do so at the end of the 2024 season.

Collins had delayed her decision in 2024 due to fertility problems related to endometriosis, which she was diagnosed with in 2021. Endometriosis is a condition in which cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus (womb) grow in other parts of the body. She played in just 14 WTA tournaments in 2025 after struggling with injuries.

In a post on social media, Collins provided an update on her health and confirmed that she has been recovering from a back injury. Furthermore, she explained that she won’t participate in the 2026 Australian Open as she has been undergoing fertility treatment, which involves the freezing of her eggs:

Wanted to come on here and give everyone a little update since everyone has been asking. I’ve been taking the last few months off to recover from the back injury I had at the end of the season. I’ve also been undergoing a few egg freezing procedures. It’s been one of the coolest things I’ve honestly ever done! But at the same time these hormones I have had to be on are a real b****.

Collins’ last match on tour was at the 2025 US Open, where she crashed out in the first round after losing in straight sets against Jaqueline Cristian. Before the loss, she managed to win just one match in three tournaments. In fact, the last time she won two matches on tour was at the Wimbledon Championships in July.

Danielle Collins to become a tennis pundit while away from the sport

For the past two months, Danielle Collins has made headlines as she sought a partner following her split with long-time boyfriend Bryan Kipp. She listed the requirements that her new boyfriend must have on social media, with some former ATP players helping her out. She ended up getting a new partner last month.

Danielle Collins
Danielle Collins (Image via Instagram/Danielle Collins)

However, her absence from the court will be a big worry as she didn’t reveal how many months she will be away from the tour as she undergoes freezing procedures. But as a result of the delayed return to the tour, Collins will turn her focus to doing tennis punditry for The Tennis Channel. However, there are no exact details of her new role as the media outlet has yet to confirm the update:

With all of this, I will not be competing during the first part of the year. But you will be seeing me in a different capacity with @tennischannel. This is all I will be sharing for now. More updates to come.

Collins’ best run in 2025 was reaching the semi-finals of the Strasbourg Open. She defeated Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Italian Open but ended up crashing out in the next match. Also, she reached the quarter-finals of the Charleston Open, while in Grand Slams, she reached the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Also Read: Casper Ruud Explains Why Aryna Sabalenka-Nick Kyrgios Battle of the Sexes is ‘Not Serious’