Danielle Collins has finally addressed the controversy that erupted during her tense second-round clash with Emma Raducanu at the 2025 Internationaux de Strasbourg.
The American star became the center of a viral moment after she called out a cameraman for getting too close to both players during a changeover, branding the incident “wildly inappropriate” and, in her latest remarks, “really pathetic.”
Danielle Collins’ Run at Strasbourg Ended in Semifinal Defeat
The confrontation occurred midway through the third set when Collins stood up during the break and directly approached a camera operator, who was filming her while she was seated on the bench. She urged him to give both her and Raducanu space, especially as the latter had been standing right behind the cameraman.
Danielle Collins asks a cameraman to give her & Emma Raducanu space during their match in Strasbourg
“I need to get water. We’re on a changeover. You don’t need to be that close to me & you don’t need to be on top of Emma. It’s wildly inappropriate”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 21, 2025
The incident rapidly drew attention online, igniting widespread discussion on social media. While much of the tennis community criticized the American for her reaction, arguing that the cameramen were simply doing their jobs, others defended her stance.
In her first public comments on the matter since the match, Collins didn’t hold back. Speaking after the backlash during her Roland Garros campaign, the 31-year-old defended her actions and doubled down on her stance, calling out what she described as an invasion of privacy during a crucial moment in the match.
“I think what happened in Strasbourg is just me asking for personal space at my workplace. I don’t know why that is even a topic of discussion. It should be something that we can get to have during, like, our work. The fact that I’ve had to ask so many different times in my career and during different matches to just have an adequate level of personal space is kind of strange,” Danielle Collins said.
“I think often times it seems like my response is treated like the offense itself. I’m learning that as a female, asking for personal space seems to be an issue for a lot of people. I think it’s really pathetic, honestly, that it’s even a topic of discussion. It’s something that over time…there’s been no one that’s been able to make the adjustment.”
Collins went on to explain that she wasn’t just advocating for herself but also for Raducanu, who had been unintentionally crowded during the exchange. In fact, following the incident, Collins was seen apologizing to the Brit and checking to ensure she was comfortable, a moment that Raducanu later acknowledged positively.
“In the video, there’s so much people don’t see. They don’t see the person go and stand right on top of Emma to get a good shot of me in about a 2 to 3 foot space. I’m doing a performance job. I’m trying to focus on my work. I’m trying to maintain my focus and concentration.”
“My job requires channeling physical, emotional, and then logical things going on. It’s my job to kind of put that all together. The last thing I should be focusing on is someone that’s right on top of my opponent and right in my face. It’s just really unnecessary. Especially with the capability we have with technology.”
Danielle Collins on the cameraman incident in Strasbourg, ‘I’m learning that as a female, asking for personal space seems to be an issue for a lot of people. I think it’s really pathetic that it’s even a topic of discussion’
“I wanted to ask you about the thing with the… pic.twitter.com/gWjcvyj6Yi
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 27, 2025
‘I Don’t Necessarily Think It Was Creepy’: Collins on Strasbourg Incident
Collins, who eventually defeated Raducanu 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals, made it clear that she values the media’s role in the sport, but not at the cost of basic personal space.
“I feel like we can get a good shot and maybe like have a little bit more distance between each other. But to go off of what you’re saying, I think the other thing is a separate issue. I think that man was trying to do his job, but where do you draw the line? I don’t necessarily think it was creepy.”
“But I think we should all be able to say, like, ‘Hey. I would like some physical space.’ You go to different tournaments and you ask nicely most of the time. You ask politely. That doesn’t get reported on. But the time I get upset about at it, that response is treated as the offense itself. And that’s what I find most interesting about it.”
Collins and Raducanu are both competing at Roland Garros in Paris, having advanced to the second round. Collins is set to face Olga Danilović, while Raducanu will take on four-time champion Iga Swiatek.
