Archive of posts tagged Olga Danilovic

Former ATP stars discuss Novak Djokovic's future

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2028 Olympics

Novak Djokovic's next tournament will be the US Open – the last Major of the season – which will take place in New York from August 24 to September 7, preceded by the mixed doubles tournament in which the former world number 1 (together with Olga Danilovic) will also participate.

Against all odds, the Serbian legend has decided not to play either the 'Canadian Open' in Toronto or the Cincinnati Masters 1000 before the US Open and fans are wondering what his level will be in the Big Apple at the end of August. The 38-year-old from Belgrade had also made this decision last season, when he needed time to recharge his batteries after the Paris Olympics, but he was unable to give his best in NY and was eliminated already in the first week.

It is clear to everyone that Nole directs his schedule mainly towards Grand Slam tournaments and has been able to raise his level in those four tournaments this year, but he has never gone beyond the semifinals. In addition, he is starting to have more injuries than in the past and he has not hidden that it will be very hard to become the oldest player ever to lift a Major.

Nole is 38 years of age 

Most experts and former players are convinced that Novak's career is not far from over, although he has repeatedly stated that he wants to try to continue until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

On the latest edition of the 'Nothing Major' podcast, former American ace Sam Querrey asked John Isner when he thinks Djokovic will retire: “Do you think Djokovic is going to be a guy who announces his retirement like 2026 will be my last year?” Isner replied: “I think you’re right. I guess when you know you know. He might just reach that point where he wakes up one morning and it’s like man, I have had enough. Hopefully that is four years from now.”

Nole has not triumphed in a Major since the 2023 edition of the US Open.

Cincinnati: Emma Raducanu routinely wins, now set for difficult Aryna Sabalenka test

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2023 Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu handled the business in her opening match with coach Francisco Roig after ousting Olga Danilovic 6-3 6-2, and she plays Aryna Sabalenka in the Cincinnati third round.

The 30th-seeded Briton, who had a first-round bye at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, lost her serve twice in the first set but broke the 40th-ranked Serb three times to still take the opener. The second was more straightforward for the 2021 US Open champion, who claimed two breaks to seal a straight-set victory.

Next up for Raducanu will be a third career meeting versus top seed Sabalenka, who defeated 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5 6-1. Last year, the current world No. 1 beat the Briton 6-3 7-5 in Indian Wells. A month ago, they met for the second time, and the Belarusian tennis star also registered a 7-6 (6) 6-4 win.

How Raducanu reacted to her performance versus Danilovic and what she can expect versus Sabalenka?

Following her opening Cincinnati win, the 2021 US Open champion acknowledged that it wasn't an ideal performance. However, the 22-year-old was still pretty happy with her display. 

“Bar the first game today, that was not very much fit, but other than that, I was pretty mature and disciplined in my performance. I took care of my service games really well. And I knew that playing Olga, who's really difficult and really dangerous as a lefty and with big strikes, it was going to be important," the world No. 33 said after her opening win.

Against Sabalenka, Raducanu has yet to win a set. However, the British tennis player managed to cause some problems to the Belarusian during their Wimbledon match – especially in the first set – when she didn't convert some chances. Also, it is worth mentioning that the world No. 1 is only now playing her first tournament since Wimbledon, while the Briton is already playing her third tournament on hard this summer.

It remains to be seen if Raducanu can pull off an upset and beat Sabalenka for the first time in Cincinnati.

Novak Djokovic's schedule worries everyone: all details inside

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Belgrade

Novak Djokovic's schedule after the Wimbledon Championships surprised both fans and insiders. The former world number 1 decided to skip the Toronto Masters 1000 and this choice was not particularly surprising, considering that the Serbian legend has not played in Canada since 2018 and definitely needed a break after his loss to Jannik Sinner at the Championships.

However, most experts expected that the 38-year-old from Belgrade would at least participate in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 – scheduled in Ohio from August 7 to 18 – in order to play some official matches on the hard courts in view of the US Open. 

The final Major of the season will begin on August 24 in New York and it is now clear to everyone that Nole will only play mixed doubles with Olga Danilovic before making her singles debut.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has spent the last few weeks on vacation with his family and friends, enjoying his free time first in Croatia and then in Greece. Novak has not yet resumed practicing and it is not known if he has solved the muscle problem that had conditioned him during the semifinal of the Championships.

Nole is still resting

A few days ago, Djokovic's presence at the second edition of the 'Six Kings Slam' to be held in Saudi Arabia was announced.

In the latest episode of his podcast, American legend Jimmy Connors admitted that he was surprised by Nole's recent choices: "I have to admit that his schedule worries me a bit. He hasn't played a hard court match so far and it would have been good to see him in Cincinnati to test his level, but instead he preferred to stay home. We don't know what to expect from him, although we can't underestimate one of the best in history. We've seen him on vacation for the last month, that's all we know."

The Serbian ace had missed both American Masters 1000 last season, before being prematurely eliminated in New York.

Montreal: Coco Gauff survives unforced errors festival vs Danielle Collins

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Beijing

Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins delivered an error-strewn display in Montreal but it was the No. 1 seed who managed to come out on top and clinch a narrow 7-5 4-6 7-6 (2) win. 

Gauff, who is seeded at No. 1 in the absence of Aryna Sabalenka, sprayed a stunning 74 unforced errors and had 23 double faults. Collins wasn't any better, firing 80 unforced errors and 13 double faults in two hours and 54 minutes of play. Overall, the two combined for a stunning 154 unforced errors. 

The third set was especially a rollercoaster – the top seed was twice up by a break but Collins managed to twice come back before also claiming a break in the 11th game to go 6-5 up. With a chance to serve out for the match, the world No. 61 failed to seal the deal and she paid the price by easily losing the tie-break.

How Gauff reacted to winning ugly against Collins?

"I was practicing well and I don't think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way. Maybe if I cut that in half, it would be a quicker match for me… I thought that I was playing well, except that part of my game," the No. 1 seed said.

In the Montreal third round, Gauff will take on Veronika Kudermetova, who defeated Olga Danilovic in the second round. So far, they have met three times and the Russian caused some problems to the American in the past, having won their 2023 Doha battle. However, the 2023 US Open champion still leads their head-to-head 2-1 since she triumphed in their 2023 Stuttgart and Beijing meetings.

Heading into the match, one thing is for sure – Gauff will look to do a much better job of making less errors on the court. 

Aryna Sabalenka: Quit Your Job

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World No. 1 sends clear message to former coaches.Amanda Anisimova

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, May 30, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty

Tennis is an ongoing educational experience.

Today, Aryna Sabalenka schooled her skeptical teachers.

Tennis Express

World No. 1 Sabalenka tamed tricky lefty Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-3 powering into the Roland Garros fourth round for the third straight year.

Three-time major champion Sabalenka, who improved to a Tour-best 37-6 in 2025, will face former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova in a blockbuster fourth-round battle between two massive hitters.

Today, Sabalenka sent major message to coaches who slammed her as too “stupid” to make her mark as a pro: Quit your job.

Recalling junior coaches who questioned her mental strength, Sabalenka told those skeptics: You know nothing.

“I always been quite motivated and they didn’t have to push me,” Sabalenka said of her rise through the ranks. “But I have heard a lot [of coaches] saying I’m not smart enough, that I’m stupid, and I’ll never make it, and I don’t have anything to make it to the top.

“I guess I want to send a quick message to them to quit their job.

“Because honestly, I think they know nothing and they better quit just to save other players.”

Asked how she reacted to critical coaches claiming she was too witless to be a winner on the WTA Tour, Sabalenka said she laughed in their face.

“I was just laughing and saying: We’ll see,” Sabalenka said.

A sharp Sabalenka has surrendered just 10 games in three tournament wins this week.

Following her crushing conquest of Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0 in her Roland Garros opener, Sabalenka shared her parents were never pushy about her career pursuit. However, the Belarusian said she saw demanding Eastern European coaches burn young players out.

“I definitely say that Eastern European school is very tough. I think that’s why whoever survive that school, they’re really tough,” Sabalenka said after round one.

On the one hand, Sabalenka said surviving her junior training made her a tougher competitor, but on the other hand she saw some fellow players broken by “brutal” coaches making punishing demands.

“I have to say that probably because of the environment and in the history of European countries, we are much tougher,” Sabalenka told the media in Paris. “Whoever got through the tough stuff, they, like, mentally and physically, they much stronger than probably, not like the rest of the world, but most of the girls on tour…

“I definitely think that the environment we have in our countries, which is like very tough and coaches are very brutal, you know, there is nothing nice about the way they, like, work with their players, they quite rude. I think that’s why maybe our mentality is much stronger, but also, the same time, they kind of like broke so many players because of that aggressive mindset.

“I think in Europe and the States, the environment is much healthier.”

 
Continuing her quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown, Sabalenka said she’s inspired by Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic still going strong at age 38 and was moved seeing the Big 4 reunite for Roland Garros’ royal celebration send off for King of Clay Rafael Nadal.

“Imagine if he gonna retire tomorrow, then everyone going to be sad, no? Don’t you think so?” Sabalanka said. “Then there is another like 10, 15 years to Jannik and Alcaraz to become one of the greatest. But just, you know, let him be.

“You know, it was so sad to see the ceremony, big four were on the court and you understand that three of them retired. Everyone missing their games.

“So let’s just let Novak to be there to show and fight and show his greatness and to inspire that generation.”