By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, January 17, 2025
Photograph credit score: Cameron Spencer/Getty
This Australian Open is all about comings and goings.
World No. 55 Olga Danilovic delivered endurance and confirmed US Open finalist Jessica Pegula the door in a assured efficiency on Rod Laver Area.
Extra: Sinner and Cahill to Half After 2025
The left-handed Danilovic run off 9 of the final 11 video games toppling the seventh-seeded Pegula 7-6(3), 6-1 to succeed in the Australian Open fourth spherical for the primary time.
“I’m tremendous pleased with the best way I performed, truthfully,” Danilovic stated. “I imply she’s on the highest of the world. She’s such a terrific participant. I knew I needed to have my A plus plus recreation to beat her.
“Behind my thoughts I actually believed in myself, you already know? I got here onto this court docket to take pleasure in myself. That is my first time on such a giant court docket, in Rod Laver Area, so I imply I do not know what to say. I am so completely satisfied at this second.”
Following Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic onto Rod Laver Area, Danilovic unleashed Serbian celebration that had Djokovic himself applauding her.
A beaming Danilovic waved to screaming Serbian followers and put her hand over her coronary heart finishing her third profession Prime 10 victory. It’s Danilovic’s first Prime 10 triumph since she defeated No. 10 Danielle Collins en path to the Roland Garros spherical of 16 final summer time.
The 23-year-old Danilovic is the primary Serbian lady to succeed in the Australian Open spherical of 16 since 2014 when former world No. 1 gamers Jelena Jankovic (fourth spherical) and Ana Ivanovic (quarterfinals) every did it.
Down 4-5 within the first set, Danilovic amped up her aggression. Deadlocked at 3-all within the tiebreaker, a decided Danilovic ran off 4 factors in a row seizing a one-set lead.
Danilovic dodged 4 break factors in an arduous third recreation holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
A Pegula drive hit the web and sat up. Hustling ahead, Danilovic dabbed a reply and the American’s lob floated lengthy. Danilovic broke for a one-set, 3-1 lead.
The left-hander, who had been constantly sliding her serve extensive on the advert aspect, blended it up and pumped a serve down the T holding at love for 4-1.
Grand Slam king and Serbian compatriot Novak Djokovic was watching this match unfold from inside Rod Laver Area and favored what he noticed as Danilovic broke once more for 5-1.
When the jumbo screens inside Rod Laver Area confirmed Djokovic watching this match, Serbian followers started chanting “Nole! Nole!” in delight seeing his assist.
Danilovic earned double match level at 40-15 serving for the fourth spherical. Pegula dug right down to deny each match factors and draw even at deuce.
Shrugging it off, Danilovic drilled an ace down the T for a 3rd match level.
Whipping one ultimate extensive serve, Danilovic closed one of many greatest exhausting court docket wins of her profession then walked to the middle of the gang and waved to the roaring crowd placing her hand over her coronary heart in a present of appreciation for the assist.
“I am so proud,” Danilovic stated. “Twelve months in the past I used to be right here and I misplaced within the second spherical of qualies. These moments are so robust. However I’ve a terrific staff behind me. I’ve household that is at all times been supporting me. I believed in myself, I labored actually exhausting and yeah, I am right here within the second week.”
Subsequent up for Danilovic is hard-hitting Spaniard Paula Badosa.
Danilovic has received two of three conferences vs. Badosa. The winner of that match will advance to the quarterfinals in opposition to both WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff or former Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic.
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