Emma Raducanu has defended Danielle Collins after the American tennis star called out a cameraman for "wildly inappropriate" behaviour during their tense match in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The incident occurred during a changeover in the third set of their French Open warm-up clash, when Collins confronted a TV cameraman who she felt was getting too close to both players.
"You don't need to be that close to me, and you don't need to be on top of Emma. It's wildly inappropriate," Collins said during the match.
The confrontation came during a hard-fought contest that saw Raducanu take the first set before requiring medical attention for back problems, with Collins eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 ahead of the French Open, which begins this weekend.
Danielle Collins asks a cameraman to give her & Emma Raducanu space during their match in Strasbourg
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 21, 2025
“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”
pic.twitter.com/s8ROMO2vaB
Raducanu had started strongly in the match, taking the opening set 6-4 against the experienced American.
However, her momentum was halted in the second set as she fell 5-0 behind before calling for a medical timeout due to stiffness in her back.
"I have had back problems before," Raducanu later explained. "At the start of the year, I was out for a few months because of it."
After receiving treatment, the British player returned to the court but couldn't recover her form in the second set, with Collins wrapping it up 6-1.
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Emma Raducanu had to receive treatment during her last-16 loss in Strasbourg XThe deciding set proved to be a tense battle, with Collins regularly firing herself up as she looked to secure victory.
It was during this final set that the incident with the cameraman occurred, momentarily shifting attention away from the on-court action.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu revealed she had been standing during the changeover due to her back discomfort when Collins confronted the cameraman.
"I was standing up because I didn't want to sit down in the third set because of my back. I was standing as it was a bit more comfortable.
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"Then, she came to fill a bottle up and was saying how the cameraman was really close and it felt a bit inappropriate. That's all she was saying."
The British player insisted she had no issue with Collins' animated on-court conduct during their match.
"I mean for me, I don't mind [her disturbances] at all," Raducanu said. "It's competition. We are both trying to fight for each point. I expect it as well from her.
"Off the court, we are both cool. We can talk and have conversations. But on the court, we are both trying to win.
"I don’t think that gets to my head, which is a good thing. It can maybe affect other players."
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Emma Raducanu said Collins doesn't get in her head, but 'it can affect other players'
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"I'm a competitor at the end of the day. I'm not meek and mild."
Raducanu admitted her ongoing back issues are causing frustration as she prepares for the French Open.
"It's annoying, it's frustrating. I get these spasms. They are quite intense and can last quite a long time. Yeah, I'll try to make it better," she explained.
The British No2 revealed these back problems had already sidelined her for several months at the beginning of the year.
Despite the setback in Strasbourg, Raducanu appears determined to manage the condition heading into Roland Garros.
Collins has shown little fear of being an outspoken presence on the tour throughout her career, with her nickname 'the Danimal' offering a hint of her at times explosive personality.
Earlier this year, the 31-year-old attracted criticism from Australian fans after boasting about her "big fat cheque" and slapping her backside following a victory over home favourite Destanee Aiava at the Australian Open.
Despite being labelled a "brat" by local media, Collins doubled down on her comments and remained unapologetic.
Following her victory over Raducanu, Collins maintained her stance on self-expression in tennis.
"To be good at anything, self expression is really important," Collins said in her on-court interview. "There aren't many successful people that feel like they can't be themselves."
Her back troubles were evident during the match against Collins, necessitating medical attention after falling behind in the second set.
The timing is particularly challenging with the French Open starting this weekend, where Collins will be looking to improve on her run to the final last year.
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