‘Another Day, Another Dollar’- Danielle Collins Cheekily Reveals the Motive Behind Her Charleston Win for Her Furry Friend

Remember when the American ace Danielle Collins silenced a booing Australian crowd after defeating hometown favorite Destanee Aiava? The fiery American didn’t just brush off the jeers: she embraced them with a smirk, famously quipping, “While I’m out here, I might as well take that big fat paycheck.” Fast forward to the first clay tournament of the season in Charleston, and the crowd-favorite Danimal is back with her signature charm. But this time, there are no playful jabs at the stands, just a sly nod to her motivation, which is stacking up prize money. And who’s the lucky beneficiary? Well, her furry best friend again!

Danielle Collins, the defending champion at Charleston, locked horns with the former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in a high-voltage R16 showdown with fans on the edge of their seats. The battle was anything but easy as momentum swayed like a pendulum, testing Danimal’s grit. She stumbled early, but was able to flip it around as the match progressed and she found her rhythm. The 31-year-old clawed her way back to clinch the first set 7-5 after a grueling 62 minutes.

Once she had first set in the bag, the World No. 22 unleashed her power in the second set, with her serve proving an unstoppable force for Ostapenko. A commanding 6-3 scoreline in set no. 2 sealed the deal for Danimal, but she wasn’t done. Post-match, she let loose her signature roast, this time giving a cheeky nod with Quincy.

With a grin, she made a tongue-in-cheek remark in the post-match interview, saying her victory didn’t just push her further in the tournament: it would translate to more treats for her beloved Quincy.

“For Quincy, it’s just another day, another dollar. So you know, it’s another day at work and I think he has a ton of fun doing this and being a part of the pack on the road, but yeah, we’ve been having fun. He got a new bow tie yesterday and it looks like he’s already gone back to the box, so he’s used to being on the side of the court when I am practicing, but yeah, what a treat to have him here,” Collins said.

Danielle Collins brings her dog on court after beating Ostapenko in Charleston

“For Quincy, it’s just another day another dollar.”

pic.twitter.com/dJhRMyub3M

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 3, 2025

This isn’t the first time Quincy has been courtside for Danielle Collins’ triumphs. Last year, after her dazzling Miami Open victory, Collins revealed the real MVP behind her win was none other than Mr. Q himself. During this year’s Miami Open as well, Collins posted a heartwarming snap of Quincy on IG, captioned, “MVP Quincy is in the House! .” Now, as Danimal racks up another emphatic win in Charleston, Quincy is again reaping the rewards: premium treats and all. 

But it wasn’t just Quincy that Collins talked about post-match. She also opened up about her fearless mindset and the mental fortitude that powered her through to the quarterfinal, proving once again that with Quincy by her side, anything’s paw-sible!

“I’ve won the event” —Danielle Collins shares her winning mentality after winning against Jelena Ostapenko

Danielle Collins had a rocky start to the season, with a third-round exit at the AO to eventual champion Madison Keys, followed by early setbacks at Indian Wells and an R16 loss to Aryna Sabalenka in Miami. But Charleston seems to bring out the best of the 2024 champion. After her straight-set victory over Ostapenko, she reflected on her strong mindset, crediting Charleston as a place where she feels calm, confident, and at home.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Collins said, “Yeah. I think my mentality is a little bit different for this event because I do honestly kind of feel like, you know, I’ve won the event. So if I won it twice, I would be either really good or lucky, you know. So I feel like it would just be a bonus to be able to lift the trophy twice, and so I think that’s kind of encouraged me with my game to just go after it even more and give it my best shot,”

With this victory, Danielle Collins keeps her title defense alive at the Credit One Charleston Open. But standing in her way next is a familiar foe: fellow American Jessica Pegula, who holds a dominant 5-0 record against her. Can Danimal break the streak and flip the script this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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