"Time is not on my side... my boyfriend has been so supportive" - Danielle Collins on partner's encouragement amid "pressure" of retirement

Danielle Collins recently opened up about how her imminent retirement is making her feel more under pressure than relaxed. The American also shed light on the positivity that her boyfriend Bryan Kipp has helped her maintain as she nears a significant transition in her life.

Collins, a former World No. 7 and the 2022 Australian Open women's singles runner-up announced in January this year that the 2024 season would mark her last as a professional tennis player. The Florida native, still only 30, has stated on multiple occasions since then that her desire to start a family with boyfriend Kipp made her want to call time on her career.

However, despite her nearing retirement, Danielle Collins has been on a roll this year, having won 38 of her 52 main-draw matches so far. Among her wins was the dominant straight-sets demolition of Elena Rybakina in the Miami Open final, which marked her maiden WTA 1000 title triumph.

She followed it up with another title-winning campaign at the Charleston Open, this time getting the better of Daria Kasatkina in the final.

The 30-year-old hasn't won a title since tasting glory in Charleston. However, she did make it to the Italian Open semifinals (her first WTA 1000-level semifinal appearance on clay) and the Internationaux de Strasbourg final. These feats led to Danielle Collins breaking back into the top 10, even though she has dropped out again, being ranked World No. 11 at present.

Recently, the American featured as a guest on the Advantage Connors podcast, and she was asked by the legendary Jimmy Connors if her imminent retirement has allowed her to play more relaxed. The Florida native said that for her, the contrary stands true, because she still harbors big ambitions, but has little time left as a professional tennis player to realize them.

"I haven't said this, but I feel like in some ways at certain times it (imminent retirement) puts more pressure on me, right? Because the clock is ticking. There are only so many events. I have a lot of goals, and I want to lift more trophies, win more events. I want to make it further in the Slams. I want to do all these things and time is not on my side, right?" Collins said (37:34).

Danielle Collins later revealed how her "gritty" boyfriend Kipp has kept her motivated in her farewell year on the WTA Tour.

"A huge part of that (staying motivated in the farewell year) too is that my boyfriend has been so supportive. My boyfriend's from Boston. He's, I think, a pretty gritty person. He's encouraged me a lot to just lean into myself constantly and putting my heart out there and wearing my heart on my sleeve. I feel like having that encouragement has been huge," Collins added (39:30).

Danielle Collins set to embark on the final US Open campaign of her career

Danielle Collins (Source: Getty)

The 2024 US Open will mark Collins' final outing at Flushing Meadows. The World No. 11 is slated to lock horns against compatriot Caroline Dolehide in the first round.

The pair has faced each other on six previous occasions (including two ITF-level matches), with Collins leading their head-to-head 5-1. If the former World No. 7 gets the better of Dolehide, she will go on to face either Spaniard Cristina Bucsa or Italian Sara Errani in the second round.

Danielle Collins' fortunes at the US Open over the years have not been great, with her best finish being a fourth round appearance in 2022.

The Florida native is heading into this year's US Open on the back of a disappointing outing at the Monterrey Open, where she was the top seed, but lost her opening encounter in the second round to Russian Erika Andreeva.