Danielle Collins gives shoutout to Novak Djokovic as Serb says he is her 'big fan' after Australian Open crowd controversy

Danielle Collins received a shoutout from Novak Djokovic, who revealed he’s a big fan of hers following her recent crowd controversy at the Australian Open. Both are participating in the tournament.

Collins grabbed headlines during her second-round match in Melbourne not just for her performance but also for her tense interaction with the Australian crowd. On Thursday, January 16, at the Show Court Arena, the 10th-seeded American faced 24-year-old Aussie Destanee Aiava in a thrilling encounter. Aiava put up a tough fight, but Collins ultimately secured a hard-fought victory in three sets, prevailing 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2.

The match was marked by a charged atmosphere, with Collins receiving criticism for her response to the booing crowd. Despite the drama, her determination on the court shone through, cementing her spot in the next round.

Collins faced boos from the crowd throughout the match. With an Australian player, Aiava, on the court, the home crowd was firmly in her corner, cheering loudly as she secured the second game. However, Collins ultimately had the last laugh.

After clinching the winning point, she celebrated her victory by taunting the Australian fans—cupping her ear and blowing flying kisses toward the booing spectators. To add to the drama, she kissed her hand and slapped her buttocks in a dismissive response to the hostile reception.

Although her actions faced widespread criticism, with some even labeling her a "brat," Novak Djokovic, the 37-year-old Serb, came to her defense. Speaking during a press conference, Djokovic expressed his admiration for the American, saying:

"I loved her response. I loved everything she said on the court and off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it," he said.

Djokovic expressed his support for her decisions, noting that he had faced similar experiences with Australian crowds. He also revealed that he’s a "big fan" of the American player.

"I mean, I heard some comments from people that she shouldn't have said that or that. I think she handled it really well. I don't think I would be that polite, but then I know exactly the feeling. So, I think she was funny, smart, and just... big fan of what she did," Djokovic said.

On Friday, December 17, Collins shared an Instagram story to express her gratitude to Djokovic for his support.

Danielle Collins's Instagram story (Image via Instagram@danimalcollins)

Danielle Collins will face Madison Keys while Novak Djokovic will take on Jiri Lehecka

2025 Australian Open - Day 5 - Source: Getty

Danielle Collins is gearing up to face fellow American Madison Keys in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, January 18, at Rod Laver Arena. Collins began her campaign on Monday, January 13, with a straight-sets win over Daria Snigur, 7-6(4), 6-3. She followed that up with another victory in the second round, defeating Destanee Aiava on January 16.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic began his journey on Monday, January 13, with a hard-fought victory over American Nishesh Basavareddy. Despite dropping the first set, Djokovic bounced back to win the match in four sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

In the second round, the Serb continued his campaign on Wednesday, January 15, where he secured another win, against Jaime Faria.

On Friday, January 17, the Serbian player took on Tomas Machac in the third round and secured a convincing victory in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will move on to the fourth round, where he’ll face Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic on Sunday, January 19.