Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, January 17, 2025
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
This Australian Open is all about coming and going.
Land No. 55 Olga Danilovic delivered the staying power and featured in the US Open final Jessica Pegula door to performing with confidence in Rod Laver Arena.
More: Sinner and Cahill will be separated after 2025
Left-handed Danilovic ran off nine of the last 11 games to beat seventh-seeded Pegula 7-6 (3), 6-1 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time.
“I’m very happy with the way I played, honestly,” Danilovic said. “I mean he’s on top of the world. He’s a top player. I knew I had to be on my A plus plus game to beat him.
“In my mind I really believed in myself, you know? I came to this court to have fun. It’s my first time on such a big court, Rod Laver Arena, so I don’t know what to say. I’m very happy at this moment.”
Following the Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena, Danilovic unleashed a Serbian celebration that had Djokovic himself applauding him.
A beaming Danilovic waved to the screaming Serbian fans and put her hand over her heart to complete her third career Top 10 victory. This is the first time Danilovic has won the Top 10 since defeating the number 10 Danielle Collins en route to the round of 16 at Roland Garros last summer.
The 23-year-old Danilovic is the first Serbian woman to reach the Australian Open round of 16 since 2014 when former world No. Jelena Jankovic (fourth round) and Ana Ivanovic (quarterfinals) each did it.
Down 4-5 in the first set, Danilovic turned up the heat. Locked at 3-all in the tiebreaker, a determined Danilovic ran off four straight points to take a one-set lead.
Danilovic fended off four break points in a tough third game to take a 2-1 lead in the second set.
Pegula’s drive hit the net and stayed. Going forward, Danilovic hit the answer and the American’s lob floated long. Danilovic breaks one set, leading 3-1.
The left-hander, who had been steadily sliding his serve to the ad side, mixed it up and dropped the server down the T to hold at love at 4-1.
The Grand Slam king and fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic was watching the match unfold inside the Rod Laver Arena and he liked what he saw when Danilovic broke again 5-1.
While the jumbo screens inside the Rod Laver Arena showed Djokovic watching the match, Serbian fans started chanting “Nole! Come on!” glad to see his support.
Danilovic earned double game point with a 40-15 serve in the fourth round. Pegula held on to deny both match points and draw even at deuce.
Reversing it, Danilovic hit an ace down the tee for the third game point.
Hitting the final stretch wide, Danilovic capped off the strongest field victory of his career and then walked into the crowd and waved to the roaring crowd with his hand over his heart in thanks for the support.
“I’m very proud,” Danilovic said. “Twelve months ago I was here and I lost in the second round. Those times are very difficult. But I have a great team behind me. I have a family that has always supported me. I believed in myself, I worked hard. And yes, I am here in the second week.”
Next up for Danilovic is the hard-hitting Spaniard Paula Badosa.
Danilovic won two of three meetings vs. They dosa. The winner of that match will advance to the quarterfinals even if he is the champion of the WTA Finals Coco Gauff or a former Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic.
