Danielle Collins caused a stir after taunting the Australian Open crowd.

John McEnroe had his say on Danielle Collins’ controversial on-court antics (Image: Eurosport)

John McEnroe has become the latest tennis figure to speak out on Danielle Collins’ controversial Australian Open behaviour.

The world No. 11 was heavily booed by the crowd after her second-round match when she gestured to kiss her bottom and reminded those who “hated” her that they were “paying her bills”.

Her response sparked backlash but the tennis community has come out to defend Collins. And McEnroe has publicly supported the 31-year-old after recalling one of their old chats.

Collins has become the talk of the town in Melbourne, for better or worse. The American has been giving it back to the fans after some cheered her mistakes while she played Destanee Aiava on Thursday night.

After being booed off court, she doubled down on her divisive comments, saying: “It’s all going towards the Danielle Collins Fund. Yeah, bring it on.”

While the Australian media hasn’t taken kindly to Collins’ antics, with one TV presenter branding her a “brat”, players like Novak Djokovic and Jessica Pegula staunchly defended her response.

And McEnroe has now weighed in. Known as the original bad boy of tennis, the seven-time Major winner admitted he once told Collins they were “cut from the same cloth”.

Appearing on Eurosport, the retired legend was asked whether the Americans loved her response. “Not sure if all the Americans did but I know I did,” McEnroe replied.

Danielle Collins riled up the crowd and gestured to kiss her bottom (Image: Getty)

“I only met her a couple times and I looked at her and said, ‘we’re cut from the same cloth’. She plays with a lot of intensity and certainly a player that wears emotions on their sleeve. But you gotta love it!”

McEnroe also likened Collins to Daniil Medvedev who, in 2019, riled up the US Open crowd by telling them he won because of their booing and fanned himself as they continued to jeer at him.

The Russian went on to reach the final and won the crowd over by the end of the tournament. And McEnroe added: “The last time someone had the gall, the guts to do something like that was Medvedev a couple of years ago.

“‘Go ahead and boo me. I’ll play better, you inspire me,’ he said. This time she says, ‘thank you for paying my bills, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t make this much money’. Come on, how good is that?”

McEnroe wasn’t the only one defending Collins. Fellow player-turned-pundit Mats Wilander was a big fan of the American’s response and also made the Medvedev comparison.

“I don’t think she went too far, I really don’t. I think it’s hysterical, I really do. It has a sense of humour to it as well,” the Swedish former No. 1 said.

“We know Daniil Medvedev, what he did in New York when he talked about the fans and he actually won them over because he showed them who he really was, and Danielle Collins is doing the same thing.

“She’s lucky that she’s playing another American. To me, perfect! I would never do it but perfect.”

Tim Henman agreed, pointing out that it was just Collins being herself. He added: “I think the best bit about it, it’s very authentic, it’s very honest.

“She’s out there and she said what she said and you you can debate whether she’s winning fans, she’s losing fans. But then she’s getting in the press conference and saying, ‘look, that’s who I am’.

“She’s not trying to sugar coat it and saying, ‘oh, I was only joking’. Take it or leave it, she’s not in a popularity contest out there. She’s there to win matches and fair play to her.”