Olympic tennis player Danielle Collins has consistently prioritized her career, a dedication that has paid off with her victories at both the Miami Open and Charleston Open in 2024.
However, following her announcement that she will retire at the end of the year, Collins is now focusing on her personal life, particularly her relationship with Bryan Kipp.
Collins and Kipp first met in a London coffee shop while she was in England for Wimbledon. At that time, Kipp was unaware of Collins’ tennis career, which delighted her.
The couple began dating, and now, along with their dog Quincy, Collins and Kipp are preparing to go on a new chapter together, away from the tennis court.
Here’s a closer look at Bryan Kipp and his relationship with the tennis star.
Kipp earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Columbia University in 2011. Currently, he serves as the senior vice president of technology and licensing at Revvity, a biotechnology firm.
According to Revvity’s website, the company “helps scientists, researchers, and clinicians identify diseases and treatments, find cures, and overcome the world’s greatest health challenges.”
Before joining Revvity, Kipp began his career in finance and later transitioned to the biotech sector at PerkinElmer, where he focused on strategy and integration.
Similar to Collins, who played tennis at the University of Virginia before going professional, Kipp was also a college athlete.
While studying at Columbia, Kipp was a member of the university’s Lions football team. He played offensive guard for the first three years of his college career and transitioned to defensive lineman in his senior year, according to Columbia’s athletics website.
Collins and Kipp first crossed paths in London. At the time, Collins was in the city for Wimbledon, and the couple met in a coffee shop.
“I didn’t think I would meet someone at a coffee shop. Who would have thought?” she shared in a post-match interview, as reported by Tennis.com. Despite her loss at the tournament, the encounter proved to be a highlight of her trip.
When they first met, Kipp not only did not recognize Collins but also lacked knowledge about tennis. “He didn’t know anything about tennis, and he didn’t know I was a tennis player, which was really nice,” Collins said.
“He was actually a bigger fan of golf and said, ‘Well, I really like golf. I don’t really know much about tennis.’ And I was like, ‘Yes! That’s so exciting.’”
Collins appreciated this lack of familiarity as it offered her a fresh perspective and the chance to share her passion for tennis.
In discussing her relationship with Kipp, Collins described herself as the more athletic partner, while Kipp is the “cerebral” one. “He was a football player at Columbia.
Very smart. Engineering major. So, I’m more kind of like the jock in the relationship, and he’s definitely more of the cerebral one,” Collins said. Despite their differences, both enjoy playing sports together.
During her victory speech at the Charleston Open in April 2024, Collins expressed gratitude for Kipp’s support. “Thank you to my special team over there.
Bryan, you had a crazy work week, and you got here just in the nick of time and have been here the last couple of days supporting me, and always helping and bringing such a big smile to my face,” she said. Kipp and their dog Quincy were present for a photo with Collins and her trophy.
Kipp not only traveled to Charleston to support Collins but also stood by her during a challenging time with a back injury. Prior to winning the 2024 Miami Open, Collins was recovering from a back injury sustained at the ATX Open, which had forced her to withdraw mid-match.
“I was devastated not to be able to finish. It was awful,” she recalled. Kipp provided crucial support during her recovery, helping her through those tough days.
Now, the couple enjoys working out together, as seen in a June 2024 Instagram reel where they did pilates together.
