Collins revealed that she was sexually harassed by a photographer early in her career, and afterwards, she felt unable to speak out and had to endure it.

Tennis star Collins recently detailed her experiences of sexual harassment during her early career in an American talk show, sharply pointing out that many victims often have “almost no right to respond” when facing inappropriate behavior, a predicament that has troubled her for a long time.

Collins recalled on the show that during her early years on the tour, after a grueling three-set match loss, she was physically and mentally exhausted and was walking off the court when a male photographer suddenly approached her and said, “Oh, Danielle, I’m sorry you lost. Can I give you a hug?” After agreeing out of courtesy, he unexpectedly kissed her and rubbed his cheek against hers during the embrace.

Collins stated, “My reaction at the time was: ‘Oh no!’” She candidly expressed that such seemingly “caring” yet actually crossing the line behavior is quite common in tennis, including “creepy” individuals stalking players to their hotels.

Based on her own experiences, Collins admitted that what’s even more infuriating is the society’s often distorted perception of victims’ experiences.

“Many times, when we respond to someone’s inappropriate behavior, our reaction itself is perceived as the offense,” Collins emphasized, noting that this inversion of reality puts double pressure on victims, forcing them to endure silently for a long time. “If you see me speaking out now, know that I’ve been troubled by this for a long time.”

Some say that when the world restricts women’s freedom with “rude standards,” it has already shackled their dignity. “Only when players no longer have to choose between ‘winning’ and ‘safety’ can sports truly return to dignity,” commented a veteran media person.

In fact, Collins’ experience is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the “safety concerns for women” in tennis. In recent years, such incidents have occurred frequently but have never received the attention they deserve from all parties involved.

In 2022, Polish Tennis Association president Skipczynski was exposed for long-term sexual abuse of a 13-year-old female player and harassing event staff to give him “private massages.” World No. 1 Swiatek publicly voiced support, stating, “As a leader of Polish tennis, I cannot remain silent! The government must uncover the truth.”

American player Kelly McKenzie was sexually assaulted by her coach Aranda at the age of 19, and the jury ultimately found the USTA guilty of “willful negligence” for knowing about the coach’s criminal history but failing to act. After winning her case, McKenzie stated, “Speaking the truth is to help more people not fear to speak out.”

Earlier this year, a man followed Raducanu at four consecutive events, leading to her breaking down in tears at the Dubai tournament. This year, Wimbledon implemented a security system to intercept this man from purchasing tickets, after which Raducanu expressed, “Female athletes should not live in fear.”

A similar incident occurred at this year’s Miami Open when Swiatek was approached by a man during her pre-match training, who loudly insulted her family and psychologist, ultimately forcing the event organizers to increase security.

When victory and safety become mutually exclusive propositions, where should “women’s safety” be placed? In recent years, although the LTA in the UK has launched a “new strategy for child protection,” the USTA has strengthened pre-training for coaches, and Wimbledon has initiated a safety system blacklist, as Schreiber pointed out: “Don’t say that in the past 40 years of my career, even now, the number of boundary-crossing incidents is shocking; only continuous exposure can drive change.”

When hugs become a disguise for assault and the right to say “no” is silenced by societal prejudice, who should guard the safety line in sports? We should always remain awake and remember what former world No. 1 Schreiber said, “The future of tennis should not be determined by the silence in the locker room.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)