NEW YORK – Danielle Collins was not in a celebratory mood as she left the court following a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open. The 11th-seeded American, who has announced her retirement after this season, lost to fellow American Caroline Dolehide with a score of 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. This loss marked a somber conclusion to her final Grand Slam singles tournament.

Despite the USTA (United States Tennis Association) being prepared to honor Collins for her contributions, she chose to leave the venue shortly after the match. Tournament director Stacey Allaster approached Collins with a bouquet of yellow flowers in hand. “I would rather do something like that in private,” Collins stated. “But I feel like I’ve received enough attention for a whole lifetime.”

Collins, who will turn 31 in December, had a strong finish to the season but has also struggled with a stomach injury since the Paris Olympics. She captured her first WTA 1000 title in Miami and briefly returned to the top 10. Although she has faced questions about reconsidering her retirement plans, Collins mentioned that her preparation for the match against Dolehide was hindered by her injuries, making the contest tougher than expected.

Dolehide, who will turn 26 next Thursday, was able to celebrate her first career singles victory at the US Open. Collins, still registered for doubles, appeared uncertain about what the future holds. “I am still playing for the rest of the year, or at least that’s the plan for now,” she commented. “But you never know with life’s challenges and health issues. We’ll see.”

After a brief hug at the net, Collins quickly left the arena, raising questions about what her next steps will look like following this tournament.

For Collins, this season has been a journey filled with triumphs and challenges, and her departure from singles competitions will undoubtedly leave a void in American tennis.