Olga Danilovic Dominates Leylah Fernandez at Roland-Garros

PARIS, France — Olga Danilovic overpowered Leylah Fernandez with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory on Sunday at Roland-Garros, showcasing her skills as a formidable unseeded player in the women’s draw.

Danilovic entered the tournament as the highest-ranked player without a seeding and appeared unfazed by her lack of a number next to her name. The 24-year-old Serbian, who has previously reached a fourth-round Grand Slam, displayed remarkable proficiency against the 27th-seeded Fernandez.

The match marked a notable early round in which Fernandez struggled to find her rhythm. Recently, the Canadian athlete, who achieved a runner-up position at the 2021 US Open, has faced difficulties, failing to secure back-to-back wins in her last seven tournaments. Danilovic capitalized on this uncertainty, dominating the opening set.

Danilovic took control quickly, breaking Fernandez’s serve multiple times to clinch the first set in just 37 minutes. She exhibited precision and consistency, amassing 18 winners and committing far fewer errors than her opponent.

Fernandez, a former girls’ singles champion in 2019 and a quarterfinalist at the US Open, was unable to match Danilovic’s performance. As the second set progressed, she fell behind early and struggled to recover, ultimately succumbing to a flawless display from Danilovic.

Danilovic finished the match with a remarkable return game, winning 75% of points on the Canadian’s second serve and breaking her five times within nine chances. This victory levels their head-to-head record at one win each and marks Danilovic’s 12-6 record in Paris.

Reflecting on her preparation, Danilovic noted the challenge of facing a fellow left-handed player, emphasizing the need for an aggressive approach to succeed. “I knew what I had to do on court, and I think I executed it well,” she stated.

As she prepares for the next round, Danilovic expressed confidence in her game, drawing motivation from her previous success in France. “I love to play here and generally play well in France, so I am taking this as a positive,” she said. Danilovic now awaits either a rematch with Danielle Collins or a match against another competitor.