The Miami Open has always been as much about the “Magic City” lifestyle as it is about world-class baseline rallies.
However, the 2026 edition has seen the spotlight shift from the hard courts to the digital realm.
Danielle Collins, the former Australian Open finalist known for her fiery on-court persona, has once again captured the internet’s attention—this time for a high-fashion bikini look debuted just days after a viral “flirting row” with French ATP star Corentin Moutet.
Taking a well-deserved breather from the intensity of the WTA circuit, the 32-year-old American star shared a series of sun-drenched snapshots from a Miami beach.
Sporting a bold, minimalist bikini paired with oversized designer sunglasses, Collins demonstrated why she is frequently cited as one of the most marketable athletes in the sport.
The response from her millions of followers was instantaneous.
Comments ranging from “Absolute model” to “Most beautiful player in the world” flooded her feed, reinforcing her status as a crossover star who transcends the boundaries of the tennis court.
While the photos are trending, the backdrop to this viral moment is a bizarre and public back-and-forth between Collins and Corentin Moutet.
The friction began during an appearance on the Tennis Channel, where Collins—never one to shy away from a headline—claimed that Moutet had been “sliding into her DMs.”
In an interview that quickly made the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), Collins quipped about her preferences in a partner, linking romantic interest to technical tennis skills.
“I basically said to him, if you’re going to be flirting with me like that, you’re going to have to get a bigger serve,” Collins told the broadcast.
She further leaned into the “Short King” discourse, noting that as a 5ft 10in athlete, she prefers height and power.
“Nothing against the short kings,” she added, “but really what it comes down to is big forehands and big serves.”
She alleged that Moutet, upset by the banter, had messaged her about his match stats before unfollowing her.
The drama didn’t stay one-sided for long. Corentin Moutet, the 5ft 11in Frenchman known for his own brand of on-court eccentricity, took to social media to vehemently deny the claims.
In a scathing post directed at both Collins and the Tennis Channel, Moutet questioned the journalistic integrity of the segment.
“How can I unfollow you when I never followed you?” Moutet wrote.
He went a step further, accusing Collins of being the one to initiate contact regarding a potential mixed doubles partnership. “You are ready to say anything so people talk about you.
You should learn how to love yourself so you won’t have to do stupid things for people to love you.”
As a news editor looking at the 2026 sports landscape, this “flirting row” represents the changing nature of tennis coverage.
Fans are no longer just interested in unforced error counts; they are invested in the personalities.
Collins, who has previously announced her plans for a nuanced transition away from full-time touring to focus on personal health and family, seems to be enjoying her final seasons on her own terms.
Whether her comments were meant as light-hearted “trash talk” or a genuine reveal of locker-room dynamics, the result is the same: massive engagement and a narrative that keeps the Miami Open at the top of the search rankings.
Despite the off-court noise, Collins remains a formidable competitor. Her experience as a Grand Slam finalist gives her an authoritative voice in the locker room, even if her “no-filter” approach occasionally ruffles feathers.
As the tour moves toward the clay-court season in Europe, the focus will likely return to her powerful groundstrokes.
However, in the city of Miami, the “Danielle Collins Show” is currently playing on two stages: the stadium court and the social media feed.
One thing is certain—whether she’s accusing peers of DM sliding or stunning in high-fashion beachwear, Danielle Collins knows exactly how to keep the world watching.