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In a commanding display at the 2026 Australian Open on January 21, world No. 3 Coco Gauff delivered a statement performance, defeating Olga Danilović in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to advance comfortably into the third round at Melbourne Park.
From the opening point, Gauff looked dialled in. On Margaret Court Arena, the 21-year-old American wasted no time stamping her authority on the match, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set with aggressive groundstrokes, sharp movement, and a barrage of deep returns that kept Danilović on the defensive. The Serbian, who had earlier knocked out Venus Williams in the first round, found herself overwhelmed and unable to counter Gauff’s relentless pressure.
Gauff’s performance was clinical, characterized by her powerful baseline game, excellent court coverage, and a tactical edge that allowed her to control rallies and force errors from her opponent. She wrapped up the match in just over 75 minutes, dropping only a handful of games as she maintained momentum throughout.
In post-match comments, Gauff spoke about her focus and execution, highlighting her intention to build on her first-round victory and keep raising her level as the tournament progresses. Her win sets up an intriguing all-American third round clash against Hailey Baptiste, a matchup that promises fireworks and further tests for Gauff’s Grand Slam aspirations.
For Gauff, this victory is not just another step deeper into a Slam — it’s a reminder of her ongoing evolution as one of the leading forces in women’s tennis. Despite having already won major titles at the French Open and the U.S. Open, Gauff has yet to make it past the semifinals at the Australian Open, and her performance against Danilović suggests she’s more than ready to make a serious run this year.
As the sun blazed down in Melbourne, Gauff served notice to the rest of the field: she’s a force to be reckoned with Down Under, and her sights remain firmly set on lifting the Daphne Akhurst Trophy.
John Owolabi
Musa
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