American tennis star Danielle Collins expressed her frustration with a group of disruptive fans during her Round of 16 match at the Monterrey Open on Wednesday. Despite her outburst temporarily silencing them, Collins was unable to regain her focus and suffered a surprising loss to Erika Andreeva.

The incident occurred when the unruly fans appeared to interrupt Andreeva's service during the match. Collins, visibly irritated, shouted in disbelief, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a supportive atmosphere. "What in the world," Collins exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I don't get it. It's not that hard to let us play tennis and be supportive."

Reports suggest that both players faced interruptions from the same group of fans, but Collins' vocal response seemed to temporarily quiet them. However, the distraction proved to be detrimental to Collins' performance, as Andreeva went on to secure her first career win against a top 20 ranked player.

Collins, the top seed in the tournament, appeared poised for a comeback after losing the opening set 1-6. She responded with determination, winning the second set 6-3. Despite her efforts, Andreeva demonstrated her skill and composure, ultimately clinching the victory by taking the third set 6-3. The match lasted just under two hours.

After the match, Andreeva expressed her focus on seizing opportunities and not letting her opponent's ranking affect her mentality. "Every time I play this [level] of opponent I try not to think about [their ranking], because it puts more pressure on me," Andreeva explained. "This time I was like, OK, I just hit the yellow ball and I don't care who I play."

Collins, coming off a quarterfinals finish at the Paris Olympics 2024, had hoped to continue her successful season. However, this loss in Monterrey adds a disappointment to her recent record. The 30-year-old tennis star has announced her plan to retire at the end of the season, making each remaining tournament an opportunity to leave her mark on the sport.

The incident with the unruly fans at the Monterrey Open highlights the importance of maintaining a respectful and supportive environment during tennis matches. Players rely on focus and concentration to excel, and unnecessary disruptions can have a significant impact on their performance. With the hope of learning from this experience, Collins looks ahead to her next tournament and aims to end her career on a high note.