Alright, so I spent some time today really digging into this Bryan Kipp and Danielle Collins thing. Not in a weird way, mind you. More like an observation practice. You see Collins playing, right? She’s got that fire, that intensity. And I heard Bryan Kipp, think he’s her fiancé, is often around, supporting her. So, I thought, let’s watch a match, but not just watch the ball. I wanted to see if I could spot his influence, you know? Like, does that background support change how she carries herself on court?
Sat down to watch one of her recent matches. Didn’t really care about the score much. My goal was different. I focused on her body language between points. How she reacted to bad calls or unforced errors. She’s always been a fighter, that’s obvious. But I was looking for something subtle. Maybe a glance towards her box, a specific way she reset herself.
What I Tried to Spot
- Resilience after errors: Did she seem to bounce back quicker? Was there less lingering frustration?
- Body Language: Any specific gestures or routines that looked new or reinforced?
- Between points focus: Where did her eyes go? Did she seem calmer or more zoned-in than usual?
Honestly? It’s tough. Really tough. You watch these pros, and they’re so contained, so focused. Trying to guess who’s influencing what from the sidelines… it’s mostly guesswork. Maybe I saw a little extra steel in her eyes during a tough service game? Maybe she seemed to shake off a double fault faster? But maybe that’s just her own development, her own grit. Who can say for sure?
It kinda reminded me of trying to figure out why a buddy of mine suddenly got good at pool. Was it the new cue? Did his girlfriend give him some zen advice? Or did he just finally put in the hours? You can speculate all day, but you don’t really know the internal mechanics.
So, the practice didn’t give me a clear answer on the Kipp influence thing. Didn’t get that “aha!” moment. But it did make me appreciate how much mental stuff goes into tennis at that level. It’s not just hitting balls. It’s a whole internal battle. And yeah, having someone solid in your corner probably helps big time, even if I can’t pinpoint exactly how on a TV screen. It’s just… there. Supporting. That’s probably the point, more felt than seen. So, the practice ended up being less about them, and more about realizing how hard it is to judge these things from the outside. Still, time well spent, just thinking and observing.
