In a candid Instagram update shared on December 23, 2025, American tennis player Danielle Collins revealed she won’t be able to compete for the initial months of the 2026 season. The 32-year-old, known for her fierce on-court presence, has been dealing with persistent injuries which forced her to end her 2025 season prematurely. Collins provided two reasons why she will miss the first half of the season.
The Back Injury and Egg Freezing Procedures
Danielle Collins had a brilliant 2024 season, but due to injuries and personal reasons, she could only play 29 matches in 2025 and now finds herself well outside the Top 50. A troublesome back issue forced her to end her season at the US Open. The injury flared up toward the latter part of the season, impacting her performance and leading to an early exit from tournaments. She won just one of her last six matches in all competitions. In her Instagram post, Collins said, “I’ve been taking the last few months off to recover from the back injury I had at the end of the season.”
The other major reason given by the former world No.7 was deeply personal. Collins shared that she’s been undergoing egg-freezing procedures, describing it as “one of the coolest things I’ve honestly ever done!” She has one more procedure left, which has influenced her choice to sit out the first part of the season.
This means Collins will miss key events like the 2026 Australian Open, where she was a finalist in 2022. On a positive note, Collins teased a new role with Tennis Channel, stating, “You will be seeing me in a different capacity with Tennis Channel.” This likely means she’ll join as a commentator or analyst during the Australian swing, offering her insights from the broadcast booth. Collins has previously decided to retire (then changed her mind), but this update signals she’s not done competing yet.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
