Danielle Collins begins ‘first real job’ with Serena Williams invitation ahead of Australian Open absence

Danielle Collins is back on our screens, but not playing tennis.

The former World No.7 made her official broadcasting debut this week as she joined Tennis Channel for their coverage of Australia’s tennis events ahead of its Grand Slam next week.

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Collins is serving as a guest analyst and commentator for the Tennis Channel and will continue in the role as she takes a break from the WTA Tour.

This break means she will miss the Australian Open as the 31-year-old confirmed she underwent an egg-freezing procedure.

Collins went viral in 2025 at last year’s Happy Slam after she going back and forth with the crowd in Melbourne following victory over local hope Destanee Aiava.

She was intensely booed before blowing kisses to spectators.

Collins later said, “The people that don’t like you, and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills.”

Such scenes won’t be on the agenda this year, with Collins confirming her plans for a brand new career – as well as a sabbatical from the tour after reversing her retirement decision.

“Wanted to come on here and give everyone a little update since everyone has been asking,” wrote Collins.

“I’ve been taking the last few months off to recover from the back injury I had at the end of the season. I’ve also been undergoing a few egg freezing procedures.

“With all of this, I will not be competing during the first part of the year,” she added.

“But you will be seeing me in a different capacity with @tennischannel. This is all I will be sharing for now. More updates to come.”

The 2022 Australian Open runner-up is never afraid to share an opinion and has wasted no time in delivering them on day one in her new role.

One of them is that she expects Serena Williams to return to tennis after it was revealed last month that the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s name was on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) anti-doping testing pool.

“Definitely, you only put your name out of that list. You don’t want people knocking on your door at any time unless you’re really serious about it,” Collins co-analyst and three-time major champion Davenport said first before Collins agreed.

“I can’t imagine her just wanting to sign up for drug testing just for the sake of it,” Collins added.

“I’m kind of hoping that she’s gonna come back. I never got a chance to play doubles with Serena.

“So if you’re watching this, ‘Girl I’m here. I think let’s debut together and we can hit the karaoke bar after.”

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Despite filing the paperwork to come back, Williams denied that she is returning to tennis.

“I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” she wrote on social media when news about her coming out of retirement broke out.

It’s unclear why Williams would ask for her name to be added without planning to come back because it means she can be visited by doping officials.

Williams’ career ended at the 2022 US Open after she lost to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round, although she refused to use the word retirement.

Instead, she said  “evolving away” from the sport.

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