American tennis player Danielle Collins accuses cameraman of sexual harassment

Collins revealed in an interview with The Telegraph on July 21 that the incident took place a few years ago when the cameraman approached her to film after a three-set loss. She described how he made inappropriate gestures and followed her persistently.

"And I remember I came off the court, I lost a long three-set match, I’m cramping, I’m tired and all the things are happening. And this guy goes: ‘Oh, Danielle, you know, I’m so sorry. Can I give you a hug?’

"I look at my coach, I’m like: ‘Uh, sure.’ So he goes in to hug me and then all of a sudden he goes in to kiss me and I’m like: ‘Oh no, oh my gosh.’ And he literally starts making out with a side of my face.

"People don’t see that like behind the scenes. They don’t hear the comments that sometimes people make towards you, they don’t see the weird men that show up to our events and stalk us and follow us to our hotels. So, yeah, sometimes you get to a boiling point," she told The Telegraph.

Earlier this year, during her match at the Strasbourg Open against Emma Raducanu, Collins also called out a cameraman who invaded her personal space.

Collins, known for her outspoken personality, is not afraid to stand up for herself. In Australian Open earlier this year, she was booed during a match against home favorite Destanee Aiava and responded by slapping her backside and thanked the audience for helping her get a "big fat pay cheque" as she won the match.

At 31, Collins has won four WTA Tour titles and reached the final of the 2022 Australian Open, climbing as high as world number seven. She also made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon, where she lost to eventual champion Iga Swiatek. Known for her consistency, Collins has been a professional for 10 years and is approaching the 500-match milestone.

Sexual harassment has become a pressing issue in women’s tennis, especially after a fan followed Emma Raducanu across three countries early this year, entered the court during a match, and continuously stalked the British player, according to Sky Sports. In response, the WTA Tour introduced stricter measures to protect players, including banning spectators who exhibit inappropriate behavior. Raducanu also had to hire additional security after the incident.