While many look to veterans for consistency, Coco Gauff is proving that her 21st year might be her most tactically sophisticated yet. Under the bright lights of Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, the American third seed dismantled Serbia’s Olga Danilovic with a 6-2, 6-2 victory that felt more like a masterclass in court geometry than a mere second-round match.
Fresh off a gritty first-round performance, Gauff appeared to have ironed out the wrinkles in her game. She surrendered just one double fault throughout the 78-minute encounter, a stark improvement that allowed her to play with a freedom that clearly unnerved her opponent. Danilovic, who arrived with momentum after a high-profile win over Venus Williams, found herself suffocated by Gauff’s relentless depth and a surprising new weapon: the drop shot.
“I’m trying to drop shot like Carlos (Alcaraz),” Gauff joked after the match, referencing the Spaniard’s signature touch. The strategy was effective; Gauff won nearly every point where she drew Danilovic forward, a tactic she admitted her coaches advised against during pressure moments but one she executed with uncanny timing.
The match was effectively decided in the opening minutes of each set. Gauff sprinted to a 5-0 lead in the first and a 3-0 cushion in the second, never allowing the left-handed Danilovic to find the rhythm that had served her so well in the opening round. Gauff’s return of serve was particularly devastating, neutralizing Danilovic’s angles and forcing 34 unforced errors from the Serbian’s racket.
With this win, Gauff marked her 251st career victory on the WTA Tour and secured her place in the third round at Melbourne Park for the fourth consecutive year. The path forward remains an American affair, as she prepares to face compatriot Hailey Baptiste in the next round. If Gauff continues to blend her trademark athleticism with this evolving tactical variety, she remains the player to beat in the bottom half of the draw.
