Former world No. 7 and 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins joined Sam Querrey, John Isner and Steve Johnson on the Nothing Major podcast for an unexpectedly hilarious — and surprisingly heartfelt — deep dive into dating, tennis life, fan applicants, and why she won’t settle for anything less than the real deal.
The hosts wasted no time teasing Collins about the now-viral clip she shared announcing she was “looking for a husband,” a moment they capitalised on quickly by collecting applicants on her behalf. Collins admitted she was amused — and slightly stunned — when she saw the guys running with it without asking.
“It felt like I was living in the seventies or eighties when women put ads in the newspaper looking for a husband,” she laughed. “I’ve been getting a ton of DMs and applications. I didn’t expect it to take off like this… well, maybe I kind of did.”
But even with the tidal wave of online interest, she admitted most submissions had to be “put to the side,” with only a handful receiving replies “just for fun.”
“The Bachelorette? only if they paid a lot of cash.”
When asked if she’d ever consider appearing on The Bachelorette, Collins didn’t rule it out — but emphasized that it would take a very specific incentive.
“If they paid the right amount of cash, I’d definitely consider it,” she joked. “But to go on just for the sake of going on? Totally out of my comfort zone.”
Collins explained that she’s always been a “relationship person,” having spent most of her adult life in long-term partnerships. The current dating landscape, she admitted, has been both eye-opening and occasionally “depressing.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever actually dated or gone on dates,” she said. “Learning how people date today has been… interesting.”
The idea of juggling multiple contestants on a TV set felt like a stretch:
“I’d be really uncomfortable dating multiple people at once. It would freak me out. And the show gets pretty raunchy! I’m a slow mover.”
The challenges of dating on tour
Collins also spoke candidly about the unique difficulties of dating as a professional tennis player — especially as a woman.
“If you’re a successful guy, you have infinite options. But when women become successful, the dating pool narrows,” she said. “Men can be intimidated by successful women. It’s valid — for me and for a lot of my friends.”
The constant travel, training demands and unpredictable schedules require someone “selfless and understanding,” especially since athletes have a limited window to chase their goals.
“It takes a huge sacrifice from the people we date. I’ve been lucky with supportive partners, but the lifestyle is still hard. We’re bouncing from continent to continent with crazy schedules.”
Danielle’s relationship criteria: No stage-five clingers and no height liars
When the hosts pushed for specific qualities she looks for in a partner, Collins didn’t hesitate. Faith and shared values are at the top of the list, followed by ambition and independence.
“I want someone with their own thing going on, so their world doesn’t revolve around me,” she said. “No stage-five clingers.”
And then there’s height — a topic she addressed with typical bluntness. “We all know I don’t like short kings,” she laughed. “But guys under 5’7″ often have huge egos. Between 5’7″ and 6’2″, not as much. Over 6’2″, the ego gets big again.”
The ultimate dealbreaker, however, is dishonesty. “There was a guy — a known person — who was two inches shorter than he claimed. If you’re lying about your height, you’re lying about a lot more. Huge red flag.”
She clarified she’s dated men closer to her own height and doesn’t need someone extremely tall — “just someone who tells the truth.”
Danielle Collins orchestrating the crowd at the Australian Open.
The applicants: Enter Andy with a twist
The hosts revealed they’d received over 40 “husband applications,” ultimately selecting one standout: Andy, whose cinematic, self-edited hype reel impressed everyone.
Collins admitted it was well-produced and joked that he could boost her social media presence. But dating a fan, she said, gave her pause. “I almost prefer someone who doesn’t know anything about tennis,” she said. “But he seems like a nice guy. I’d have questions.”
And then she casually dropped the update no one expected making their work redundant: “I’ve been going out with somebody. We’ve gone out eight or nine times. We’re kind of exclusively dating.”
Collins described her new partner as someone who conveniently splits his time between the same locations she does, knows nothing about tennis, and recently launched his own investment firm. “He’s 6’5″, blue eyes, in finance… kind of like a Winklevoss,” she laughed.
The hosts instantly declared him her boyfriend, a title Collins didn’t reject.
A surreal fan encounter
Collins also shared an almost movie-like moment that happened during a group outing on her friend’s boat. Wearing a hat and sunglasses, she asked a woman at a nearby table if they could take photos for each other. The woman agreed — “for a professional tennis player.”
Collins was stunned. With her face covered, she asked the woman which player she thought she was. “Danielle,” the woman said confidently.
She hadn’t recognized her visually, she recognized her voice.
After asking about Collins’ dating life, the woman abruptly grabbed her shoulders, looked deeply into her eyes, and said: “You’re so lovely. Don’t settle.” Then she looked at Collins’ date. Then back at her. The table erupted in awkward laughter.
“I’m a firecracker. Not for everyone.”
As the episode wrapped, Collins reflected on her big personality and competitive fire. “I’m a lot,” she admitted. “I’m a firecracker. I’m not for everybody. You guys have probably seen that on court.”
The hosts wished her luck with the new relationship and promised to keep the applicants “on the back burner” just in case. Collins promised an update:
“I’m hoping it works out. Fingers crossed. And if it doesn’t, I’ll definitely let you guys know.”