Danielle Collins: Health Battle, Retirement, and Latest News

When a top‑10 tennis player announces she’s playing her last season before the year even begins, it raises eyebrows — and Danielle Collins did exactly that at the 2024 Australian Open, with a reason that went far beyond the court. Her decision to walk away from a career that reached a Grand Slam final is rooted in a years‑long health battle that also touches on her hopes of starting a family.

Full Name: Danielle Rose Collins ·
Date of Birth: December 13, 1993 ·
Career-High Ranking: No. 7 ·
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m) ·
WTA Titles: 4 ·
Retirement Announced: 2024

9 key facts about Danielle Collins’ life and career, one pattern: the same health conditions that shortened her tennis prime also pushed her to redefine what success means after the final match.

What condition does Danielle Collins have?

Endometriosis

Collins has spoken openly about being diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. In a March 2024 interview with Reuters, she said the condition affects her ability to conceive. “I’m dealing with a chronic inflammatory condition that impacts my ability to conceive,” she explained. Severe menstrual symptoms led to her diagnosis, according to The Athletic.

Rheumatoid arthritis

In a 2019 diagnosis revealed in the same Reuters report, Collins learned she has rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation. Playing elite tennis with a condition that attacks the joints is a challenge few fans appreciate. CNN reported that Collins has “battled rheumatoid arthritis and endometriosis” throughout her career. The constant travel and physical grind only worsened her symptoms, she told The Athletic.

Treatment and management

Collins has not shared a full treatment protocol, but ABC News reported that she plans to retire at the end of the season in part to focus on her health. She mentioned wanting to break free from “the constant travel, hotel stays, and pressure” of the tour, per The Athletic.

The implication: Collins’ health battles reshaped her priorities in a way that few fans anticipated.

Are Danielle Collins and Bryan Kipp still together?

Who is Bryan Kipp?

Bryan Kipp is a former college football player and Collins’ ex‑fiancé. The couple got engaged in 2022. However, by 2024 their relationship had ended. The exact timeline of the split remains private, but multiple outlets, including Reuters, have reported on Collins’ changed family plans after the breakup.

When did they start dating?

Collins and Kipp reportedly began dating in 2021 and got engaged the following year. By 2024, Collins was speaking about her desire to start a family “sooner rather than later,” according to The Athletic, but without referencing Kipp. In early 2025, she hinted on social media that she had a new boyfriend, writing “Life is full of surprises.”

The pattern: personal setbacks often lead to unexpected opportunities.

What is going on with Danielle Collins?

Retirement announcement

At the 2024 Australian Open, after a second‑round loss to Iga Światek, Collins told reporters, “This is going to be my last season, actually, competing.” AP via NY1 captured her exact words: “I don’t really know exactly when, but this will be my last season and I’m really looking forward to that.” The announcement came as a shock to fans, especially because Collins, a former world No. 7, was still playing at a high level — she won the Miami Open in 2023.

Post‑retirement life and new partner

After the split with Kipp, Collins has been open about looking ahead. In early 2025, she posted a lighthearted message on social media that appeared to confirm a new relationship. The identity of her new boyfriend has not been officially confirmed, but the update signals that Collins is moving forward. She continues to speak about the importance of health and family over tennis trophies.

Does Danielle Collins have any children?

No kids yet

Danielle Collins does not have children. She has stated repeatedly that one of the driving forces behind her retirement is the desire to start a family. Reuters quoted her saying the retirement decision “is about more than just tennis,” and that her chronic inflammatory condition impacts her ability to conceive.

What she has said about motherhood

In her interview with The Athletic, Collins explained that she wants to start a family “sooner rather than later,” and that the physical demands of tennis — endless travel, hotel life, tournament pressure — were incompatible with that goal. The decision is clearly a priority for her: she is walking away from a career that earned her millions of dollars and a Grand Slam final appearance.

What did Danielle Collins say about Iga Światek?

Context of her comments

After their 2024 Australian Open match, which Światek won, Collins made comments that were interpreted as critical of the world No. 1. Collins later clarified her remarks, saying they were taken out of context. In a subsequent interview, she said she respects Światek as a player and opponent. The exchange generated headlines but did not escalate into a feud.

How Światek responded

Iga Światek responded diplomatically, saying she understands the emotions of a loss, especially one that ends a season. The two players have not had any further public friction.

What this means: public moments under pressure often reveal deeper personal struggles.

Timeline: Danielle Collins’ career and health journey

• 1993: Born in St. Petersburg, Florida. (ABC News)
• 2014, 2016: Won NCAA singles title (University of Virginia).
• 2022: Reached Australian Open final (runner‑up). (Reuters)
• 2023: Won Miami Open title. (CNN)
• 2024: Announced retirement at end of season, cited health issues. (AP via NY1)
• 2024: Spoke publicly about endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis. (Reuters)
• 2025: Revealed new relationship after split with Bryan Kipp. (Social media post)

The arc: a career defined by resilience now gives way to a new chapter focused on health and family.

Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Danielle Collins was born December 13, 1993. (ABC News)
• She has a career‑high ranking of No. 7. (Reuters)
• She has endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis. (Reuters)
• She announced her retirement in 2024 after the Australian Open. (AP via NY1)

What’s unclear

• Exact details of her new boyfriend’s identity.
• Whether she will return to tennis after retirement.
• Full treatment details for her conditions.
• Whether she is still engaged to Bryan Kipp (reports of split are unconfirmed).

The pattern: the most personal details remain private, even as Collins shares her broader story.

Danielle Collins in her own words

“I’ve been dealing with some health issues that have made it difficult to compete at the level I want.”

— Danielle Collins, 2024 interview (via Reuters)

“Life is full of surprises.”

— Danielle Collins on social media, early 2025 (referenced by multiple outlets)

For Collins, the decision to step away from competitive tennis is a trade‑off between a career that brought her to a Grand Slam final and a future that includes starting a family. The coming years will test whether she can balance her health, a new relationship, and life after the baseline. For an athlete who fought through two chronic conditions to reach world No. 7, the next chapter may be her toughest — and most rewarding.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Piper Gilles: Ice Dancer, Cancer Survivor, Olympic Medalist — another elite athlete who balanced a serious health condition with competition. Also see Duncan Keith Retirement: Life After Hockey and What He Does Now for a parallel story of an athlete redefining life after the sport.