Early Life and Background
Olga Danilović was born on January 23, 2001, in Serbia, into a family steeped in sports. Her father, Predrag Danilović, is a former basketball player, and her mother, Svetlana, works as a sports reporter. Surrounded by this strong sports culture, Danilović gravitated to tennis from a young age, setting her path in the world of professional sports early on. We nearly overlooked mentioning that Olga Danilović was born in Belgrade — a city also famously home to Novak Djokovic.
Junior Career and Early Successes
Danilović’s junior years showcased her talent across both singles and doubles. She achieved a win-loss record of 93–33 in singles and 72–24 in doubles, peaking at ITF Junior No. 5 in January 2018. Her standout achievements included winning three Junior Grand Slam doubles titles, each with a different partner, on three different surfaces—a rarity in junior tennis. These victories were at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open between 2016 and 2017.
Breakthrough in Professional Tennis
In 2018, Danilović entered the spotlight with her first WTA singles title in Moscow. She won the final as a lucky loser, defeating Anastasia Potapova, which made her the first player born in the 2000s to win a WTA Tour title. That year, she also earned the Fed Cup Heart Award, donating her prize to the University Children’s Hospital in Belgrade.
Her success continued with several wins on the ITF Women’s Circuit, where she accumulated seven singles titles. She entered the WTA top 100 for the first time in October 2018, briefly reaching a ranking of No. 96. Her doubles achievements also gained attention, winning WTA doubles titles in Tashkent and Lausanne.
2020: Limited Play Due to Pandemic and Injuries
Like many players, Danilović faced a reduced schedule in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled numerous tournaments and altered the WTA calendar. Additionally, she struggled with injury setbacks that affected her ability to consistently participate in events. These factors combined to stall her momentum after a promising start in her early career.
2021: A Slow Return to Competition
Danilović re-entered the WTA Tour more actively in 2021 but with mixed results, as injuries continued to limit her participation and performance. She did, however, make her main-draw debut at the Australian Open, achieving a notable win over 16th seed Petra Martić in the first round. Her tournament run ended in the second round, but the match highlighted her potential to compete against top players. She also made her debut at the US Open but had to withdraw before her second-round match against Naomi Osaka due to medical reasons.
2022: Injury Challenges and Steady Comeback
In 2022, Danilović continued her gradual comeback, though injuries still limited her appearances on the court. Her most notable achievement came at the French Open, where she qualified for the main draw and won her opening match, marking her debut at this major tournament. Later that year, she reached the singles final at the Ladies Open Lausanne and claimed the doubles title with Kristina Mladenovic.
2023: Strong Performances and Return to Top 100
In 2023, Danilović’s hard work paid off as she returned to the WTA top 100 rankings. She won her biggest ITF title at the $100k Open Villa de Madrid, beating Sara Sorribes Tormo in the final. At the French Open, she qualified for the main draw and reached the third round, marking her best Grand Slam performance to date. Later, she won her first WTA 125 title at the Swedish Open, defeating top seed Emma Navarro.
Recent Career Highlights
In 2024, Danilović achieved her best Grand Slam result to date, reaching the fourth round of the French Open. This marked her as the first Serbian woman to make it to the second week of Roland Garros since Ana Ivanovic in 2015. Her victory included wins over players like Danielle Collins, Kimberley Birrell, Martina Trevisan, and Donna Vekic.
And then recently, she claimed her first WTA Tour hardcourt title in Guangzhou, defeating Caroline Dolehide in the final. This win brought her to a new career-high ranking of No. 52 rising an astonishing 34 spots.
Playing Style and Coaching
Danilović is known for her baseline power mixed with the occasional dropshot, with her serve and aggressive play being key elements in her game. Over her career, she has worked with several notable coaches, including former world No. 2 Àlex Corretja. She has also had the guidance of various Serbian tennis figures.
Representing Serbia
Danilović has been a dedicated representative for Serbia in the Billie Jean King Cup, achieving a 12–8 win-loss record in national team play as of 2024. Her performances have often been central to Serbia’s campaigns, underscoring her role as an emerging talent in Serbian tennis.
Like many players outside the top 50, Danilovic is another athlete who received far too little attention in the past but now truly deserves it.