Anticipation was at fever pitch as Danielle Collins returned to the court days after taunting the Aussie crowd, and the locals predictably had something waiting for her.

Danielle Collins got into a back-and-forth with a booing crowd at the Australian Open after eliminating a local player, blowing kisses to the spectators and repeating the phrase, “How about that?!”

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Danielle Collins booed off the court after Australian Open loss. Melbourne’s raucous crowd enjoyed the last laugh over Collins as she suffered a 6-4, 6-4 third-round exit at the hands of compatriot Madison Keys. Booed from the moment she stepped foot on Rod Laver Arena, 10th seed Collins was stoic.

Danielle Collins was involved in a heated exchange with fans during her Australian Open second-round win over Destanee Aiava, with the American telling them to "shut up".

Men’s top seed Jannik Sinner is also up tonight, taking on America’s Marcos Giron in the third round. Women’s second seed Iga Swiatek, fourth seed Jasmine Paolini and sixth seed Elena Rybakina are also in action on a day where huge crowds are expected to flock to Melbourne Park.

Tennis purists felt unsettled as Danielle Collins went right at a rowdy Australian crowd after taking out a hometown favourite in incredible scenes. But the exchange is actually healthy for the sport.

Danielle Collins is out of the Australian Open in the third round and the crowd made sure to give her one final round of boos as she was leaving the court. In an all-American battle, world No. 14 Madison Keys saw off the No. 10 seed 6-4 6-4 to progress into the round-of-16.

Danielle Collins had no intention of being at this year's Australian Open, but the former finalist is glad to be back at Melbourne Park and taking comfort in the routines of tennis after personal setbacks with starting a family.

The sassy Collins, who calls herself The Danimal, told fans to “shut up” and then cupped her hands to her ears, blew kisses and slapped her backside after beating qualifier Destanee Aiava.

It’s fair to say Danielle Collins won’t have the crowd on her side from this point on however long her run in this year’s Australian Open lasts.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Count Novak Djokovic as being in Danielle Collins' corner. He thinks her response to booing fans at the Australian Open was absolutely fine — which should come as no surprise, given the way Djokovic gets into back-and-forths with hecklers at his matches, including Friday night at Rod Laver Arena.

American tennis star Danielle Collins got under the skin of every Aussie on Thursday night, but now the lid has been lifted on her frosty relationship with a sporting icon.