Danielle Collins addresses criticism

When Danielle Collins objected to Maria Sakkari throwing the ball into the audience during their Montreal match, Danielle Collins claims she felt compelled to defend the spectator.

Earlier this month, Sakkari was playing Collins in Montreal's second round when she botched a first serve, sending the ball flying into the crowd.

Collins didn't let it pass unnoticed even though the ball didn't strike anyone and the chair umpire didn't respond.

Collins and Sakkari got into a fight on the court; Collins was heard demanding Sakkari to "shut your mouth," to which Sakkari replied by asking Collins what Collins' issues were.

Following the game, Collins faced some flak for instructing Sakkari to "shut your mouth" because some people didn't like the way Collins had spoken to Sakkari on the court.

Collins told David Kane of tennis.com, "She almost hit someone, and I got villainized for defending them."

Explaining why she called out Sakkari on the court, Collins said coach Jared Jackson has been working on helping her be her "authentic self" in recent months.

That's why Collins had the courage to speak up and call out Sakkari. “A couple months ago, I wouldn’t have done that. I would have been too worried about what other people are saying or thinking about me, or judging me.

There’s so much outside noise and criticism that we get as players, and it’s tough, right? And as a woman? There’s unfortunately a lot of societal expectations of this meek and mild woman," Collins said.