Collins announced she will miss the early part of the new season to recover from injury, revealing she has frozen her eggs and is currently taking hormone medication.

Today, Collins posted a photo on Instagram where she is holding flowers and smiling brightly. She disclosed that she is simultaneously dealing with recovering from a back injury suffered at the end of the last season and finishing her egg freezing process. Due to these reasons, she will miss the start of the 2026 season.

In her caption, Collins wrote: "I wanted to give you all a little update because everyone keeps asking! Over the past few months, I’ve been resting and hoping to recover from the back injury I sustained at the end of the season."

Additionally, she revealed, "I have also undergone some egg freezing procedures. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done! But at the same time, the hormone medications I have to take are truly brutal. I’m very lucky that my friends have been taking care of me during this time. I have one more step to complete. Because of these circumstances, I won’t be playing in the first part of this year’s season, but you will see me involved with Tennis Channel in a different role. That’s all I have to share for now. More updates will come."

Collins began experiencing physical issues towards the end of this year, with injuries blocking her progress. However, her greater health challenge is endometriosis. The diagnosis process was long and difficult, involving multiple ultrasounds and laparoscopies, until doctors found a cyst the size of a tennis ball in her abdomen.

This condition affects about 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide and can cause pain, infertility, and other problems. For Collins, the painful menstrual cramps caused by endometriosis make it difficult for her to train and compete during her period.

Collins has openly stated, "My ultimate dream is to have children and start a family." But the fertility issues caused by endometriosis present a challenge she must actively overcome.

It is worth noting that during her time away from the court, Collins will be protected under WTA policies. According to the WTA’s protected ranking rules for maternity, players who take a continuous break of more than 10 weeks for fertility-related medical procedures (such as egg freezing, embryo preservation, or pregnancy) can have their world ranking protected during their absence. This policy aims to help players return smoothly to competition after childbirth or treatment, meaning Collins will be able to enter tournaments using a protected ranking when she returns, rather than starting from scratch.

Although temporarily away from competition, Collins will not disappear entirely from the public eye. She told fans they will be able to see her in a new role on Tennis Channel.

She stated this is all she can share for now, adding, "More updates will come." This means fans can look forward to her new media role and the possibility of her future return to the court.

Sports media generally understand Collins’ decision. Some commentators noted that by openly sharing her egg freezing experience, she breaks the silence around female fertility issues in professional sports and provides a reference for other female athletes. Tennis-focused media paid more attention to her career planning. The Tennis Gazette analyzed her ranking situation, pointing out she will miss multiple ranking events including the Australian Open, but fortunately has the protected ranking policy supporting her comeback.

On social media, Collins’ update sparked widespread discussion. Many female users expressed feeling inspired: "Seeing a top athlete face the same fertility challenges and talk openly about it makes me feel less alone." Some tennis fans had mixed feelings: "We will miss her passion on the court, but fully support her decision to prioritize her health." Numerous comments praised her honesty: "In the polished world of sports, this kind of authenticity is rare. Hormone treatments are really tough, thank you for speaking out."

Collins plans to complete the remaining treatment steps and try a new role at Tennis Channel. This athlete, who has always faced challenges courageously, is now competing in another important life battle off the court.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)