Serbia’s Olga Danilovic Stuns Jessica Pegula in Australian Open Upset

MELBOURNE, Australia — Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, ranked 55th in the world, delivered a stunning performance to defeat seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday. The match lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes, marking Danilovic’s second appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam, following her run at Roland Garros last year.

With 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic watching from the stands, Danilovic fired 28 winners and saved all six break points she faced. Djokovic, who had earlier won his own third-round match, joined in the celebrations by mimicking Danilovic’s raised-arm victory pose backstage. Danilovic is the first Serbian woman to reach the second week of the Australian Open since Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic in 2014.

“She’s at the top of the world, she’s a great player,” Danilovic said in her on-court interview. “I knew I had to bring my A++++ game to beat her. Deep down, I really believed in myself.” The victory marked Danilovic’s third career win over a Top 10 player, with her first coming at age 17 during her WTA main-draw debut at the 2018 Moscow River Cup.

Danilovic’s recent form has been impressive, winning 13 of her last 14 matches, including titles at the ITF W100 in Cornellà de Llobregat and the WTA Tour event in Guangzhou. Despite a first-round loss in Hobart earlier this season, she has already notched significant upsets this week, including a win over 25th seed Liudmila Samsonova.

The match against Pegula was tightly contested in the first set, with both players serving effectively and winning over 70% of their first-serve points. Danilovic’s aggressive play, particularly her left-handed forehand, proved decisive in the tiebreak, where she won the final five points with clean winners. She carried that momentum into the second set, saving four break points in a crucial third game before breaking Pegula’s serve for the first time.

Next, Danilovic will face 11th seed Paula Badosa, with a spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals on the line. Danilovic leads their head-to-head 2-1, including a victory in their most recent meeting at the 2019 Guadalajara WTA 125.

Pegula, known for her sharp tennis analysis, praised Danilovic’s performance. “She served, like, 80% first serves,” Pegula said. “When you play a lefty, that’s really tough. The conditions were very slow. It seemed slower than a clay court. The balls were very heavy, and I think that totally favored her.”

Danilovic’s rise has been fueled by her Spanish coaching team, led by Pepo Clavet and Alejandro García Cenzano. The 23-year-old, who resides in Madrid, is also supported by her partner, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Her father, Predrag Danilovic, is a basketball legend who played in the NBA and won multiple European championships with Yugoslavia and Serbia.