PROFESSIONAL tennis is a world of grueling travel, intense pressure, and fleeting personal time, making the search for a meaningful relationship a unique challenge for its athletes. For American star Danielle Collins, who is in the midst of a career-best season and her final year on tour, that challenge is now being tackled head-on with a modern solution: the dating app Raya.
The 30-year-old, who recently reached the finals of the Miami Open and the quarterfinals of the Italian Open, confirmed her single status and her new foray into the digital dating world during a press conference in Rome. Her decision comes after a public split from her longtime boyfriend, Golf Channel reporter Tom Condon, earlier this year. Collins was refreshingly candid about her motivations and, in true competitive fashion, set clear parameters for her potential matches.
A Blunt Approach to Dating Preferences
When asked by a reporter if she had any deal-breakers on her dating profile, Collins didn't hesitate. "I put on my profile that I don't want any short kings, so if you're a short king, stay away," she declared with a laugh. The phrase "short kings," a modern, often affectionate term for men of shorter stature, was used by Collins with a clear and unapologetic directive. Her statement immediately sparked a wave of reactions across social media, with some applauding her honesty and others criticizing the specificity of her preference.
This isn't the first time Collins has been open about her personal life or her desires. In a recent interview with the Tennis Channel, she elaborated on the difficulties of finding a partner while living the life of a professional athlete. "It's hard because we travel so much, and you know, I'm looking for someone who is ambitious, who has their own thing going on, and who is supportive," she explained, highlighting the logistical and emotional hurdles of tour life.
Navigating Heartbreak in the Public Eye
Collins's relationship with Condon was a significant part of her life for several years, and their breakup was played out, to some extent, in the public sphere. The split was confirmed when Collins was spotted without her engagement ring, which she had been proudly wearing, and she subsequently unfollowed Condon on social media. The golfer-turned-broadcaster has also removed most traces of their relationship from his own Instagram account.
The timing of the breakup, coinciding with the most successful and consistent period of her career, has been a topic of discussion. Collins has spoken about the emotional toll, but has channeled that energy into her game. "There's been a lot of change in my life recently, both personally and professionally," she admitted in Miami. "I'm just trying to focus on the things I can control."
Her ability to compartmentalize has been remarkable. Since announcing that the 2024 season would be her last, citing health struggles with endometriosis and a desire to start a family, Collins has been on a tear. Her powerful baseline game and fierce competitive spirit have resulted in a string of deep tournament runs, proving that her personal resolve is as strong as her forehand.
The Reality of Dating as a Professional Athlete
Collins's move to Raya, an exclusive, membership-based dating app known for its celebrity and influencer user base, is a practical one for someone of her profile. It offers a degree of privacy and vetting not found on mainstream platforms. For a female athlete, the dating pool can be particularly complicated, often intersecting with issues of fame, finance, and physicality.
The specific mention of height, while sparking debate, is a common filter in the world of online dating. Studies of dating app behavior consistently show that height is one of the most frequently listed and searched-for attributes. Collins's straightforwardness, while blunt, simply makes explicit a preference that many users implicitly employ. Her comments highlight a few key challenges athletes face:
- Logistical Nightmares: Constant travel across time zones makes sustaining a new relationship incredibly difficult.
- Public Scrutiny: Every relationship and breakup becomes fodder for press and social media commentary.
- Power Dynamics: Successful female athletes often out-earn and are more famous than potential partners.
In this context, being upfront about deal-breakers, whether it's lifestyle, ambition, or physical characteristics, is a way to save time and emotional energy—a precious commodity during a packed tournament schedule. "You have to be selective," Collins has said in the past about life choices. "Your energy is your currency."
Social Media Reacts to the "Short Kings" Comment
As expected, Collins's press conference soundbite quickly went viral. The reaction was a mixed bag, reflecting the ongoing cultural conversation about dating preferences and how they are expressed. Some users on platform X (formerly Twitter) defended her, with one writing, "People are allowed to have preferences. She's just being honest on her profile. What's the issue?"
Others were less charitable, accusing her of being shallow or heightist. Another viral post critiqued, "It's fine to have a type, but publicly telling 'short kings' to stay away feels unnecessarily harsh and dismissive." The debate raged, pulling in discussions about gender norms, with some pointing out that men often list height requirements for women on their own profiles.
Throughout the online maelstrom, Collins has remained focused on her tennis. She has not engaged further with the commentary, instead posting training clips and match updates to her social media followers. This disciplined approach has been a hallmark of her "Danimal" persona—a nickname earned for her ferocious and tenacious style of play on the court.
Looking for Love and Trophies Simultaneously
As the clay court season culminates with the French Open and the tour shifts to the grass of Wimbledon, Collins is in the unique position of chasing both Grand Slam glory and romantic connection. Her journey is being watched with a mixture of admiration for her athletic prowess and curiosity about her personal life. She represents a modern athlete who is unafraid to be multifaceted—both a ruthless competitor and a woman openly seeking partnership.
Her foray into dating apps is a relatable move for many, even if her platform of choice is more exclusive than most. It underscores a universal truth: regardless of fame or profession, the desire for companionship is a powerful force. For Collins, the hope is to find someone who can match her own intensity and drive. "I'm looking for my equal," she has hinted in past interviews, a search that is now underway both on and off the court.
The final chapter of Danielle Collins's professional tennis career is shaping up to be her most compelling. With a powerful game, a clear-eyed perspective on her future, and a new Raya profile actively swiping, she is navigating the complex intersection of career culmination and personal renewal. Her message to "short kings" may have been blunt, but it is part of a larger, more nuanced picture of a woman taking control of her narrative in every aspect of her life.