Midway through a nail-biting third set, things briefly shifted off-court when Collins confronted a cameraman for getting far too close during a changeover.
With the score tied at 3-3 in the deciding set, both players sat down for a routine two-minute rest and side switch. That’s when Collins, clearly irritated, called out the cameraman who was hovering near her and Raducanu.
“I need to get water. We’re on a changeover. You don’t need to be that close to me, and you don’t need to be on top of Emma,” she snapped, letting out a frustrated laugh as he finally backed off. “It’s like wildly inappropriate”, reported the Daily Beast.
Still visibly annoyed, she added while refilling her bottle, “It’s not that difficult to give space.”
Whether it was the incident or just her competitive edge kicking in, Collins came out firing straight after. She won the next three games on the bounce, sealing a gutsy comeback win 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
After the match, Collins opened up about her no-nonsense approach and why she doesn’t hold back when she’s on court. “I think to be good at anything, self-expression is really important. There’s not too many successful people in the world who feel like they can’t be themselves,” she said. “I think you have to be yourself, and I’m a competitor at the end of the day. I’m not meek and mild. I’m not someone that is going through life quietly, and I want to succeed.”
She went on to explain that success in professional tennis requires more than just physical skill—it’s about mental grit and emotional honesty too. “At this level, you have to compete and this is what competing is about. It’s about bringing the energy, showing positive emotions, sometimes showing negative emotion, and being upset with yourself, but then trying to work through those moments.”
Collins, who’s gained a reputation for her fiery presence on the court, isn’t one to shy away from confrontation or intensity. Her passion has drawn comparisons to tennis legend John McEnroe, known just as much for his emotional outbursts as for his exceptional play.
Whether you love her unapologetic energy or find it a bit much, there’s no denying Collins puts everything into her game. And if calling out a boundary-crossing cameraman in the middle of a match is part of what fuels her fire, it clearly works. She took down one of Britain’s brightest stars and made sure everyone knew she wasn’t just there to play quietly—she was there to win.