Enjoying a blossoming romance with world-renowned goalkeeper Jan Oblak, Serbian WTA No.1 Olga Danilovic recorded her career-best result at a Grand Slam by ousting Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-2 7-5 in the second round of Roland Garros.
The world No.105 Danilovic capitalized on key breaks in the fourth and eighth games, allowing her to secure a one set lead. Although facing a daunting 5-1 deficit in the second set, Danilovic refused to surrender and staged a remarkable comeback, winning an astonishing six consecutive games to win her 20th set in a row.
Born into an athletic family, with her father being the renowned Serbian basketball player Predrag Danilovic, Olga has been making waves in the tennis world. Her impressive recent run of form began with a series of five straight-set triumphs that led her to capture an ITF $100K title at the Open Villa de Madrid. Building upon this success, she persevered through three rounds of qualifying at Roland Garros and has now triumphed in two main-draw matches, marking her greatest achievement thus far in a major tournament.
When asked about the extent to which her relationship with the renowned Slovenian footballer who plays for Atletico Madrid could be a contributing factor to her recent run of success, Danilovic told Mozzart Sport:
When you feel good, everything becomes more beautiful, easier, and better. That’s how it is when you feel fulfilled in every aspect. But primarily, it takes hours and hours on the court, in the gyms, and fitness centers. Definitely, when things are good off the court, maybe it can be better on the court, let’s say it that way.
After a remarkable resurgence, Danilovic has secured her position in the Top 100 of the WTA live rankings, currently standing at No.97. The 22-year-old hasn’t been in the Top 100 since 2018. Despite her achievement, she remains unfazed by the pursuit of ranking points.
Danilovic faces a formidable challenge in the third round of the French Open as she takes on the seventh seed, Ons Jabeur. This matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two players. Here’s what the Serb had to say about her upcoming clash against the Tunisian world No.7:
I have played against the best players before. I will enjoy it on the court because I feel good. She has a diverse game, changes the rhythm, plays that tricky style, but I also have a tricky game. Being left-handed, my forehand has a significant impact on the court when it’s working well, as does my serve. Honestly, I need to discuss tactics with my coach. The most important thing is to play my game and be aggressive. If she finds a solution to that, hats off to her. I will definitely enjoy it; I never count myself out. I don’t step onto the court unless I believe I can win. I will prepare as much as I can to try to show my best tennis.
