“I’m trying to drop shot like him”: Gauff channels Alcaraz in ruthless win over Danilovic
Coco Gauff’s evolution into a multidimensional threat continued on Wednesday night as she dismantled world No. 68 Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Australian Open third round for the fifth time. Currently sitting on a 5-1 record for the 2026 season, the third-seeded American paired her signature world-class defensive coverage with a newfound tactical … Continued
Coco Gauff, Cincinnati 2025 | © Claude Cabit / PsNewz
Coco Gauff’s evolution into a multidimensional threat continued on Wednesday night as she dismantled world No. 68 Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Australian Open third round for the fifth time.
Currently sitting on a 5-1 record for the 2026 season, the third-seeded American paired her signature world-class defensive coverage with a newfound tactical daring, explicitly crediting men’s world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz for her increased use of the drop shot.
The victory on Margaret Court Arena was a display of ruthless consistency and physical poise. While Danilovic arrived with momentum following her upset of Venus Williams, she found no rhythm against Gauff, who dictated rallies from the baseline and successfully neutralized the Serb’s heavy left-handed forehand.
However, the standout feature of Gauff’s performance was her commitment to the drop shot, a tool she has historically treated with skepticism but is now using with devastating efficiency. “Honestly, the drop shot is always a bad idea in my head and then I make it and I’m like, ‘Oh okay, that was good,'” Gauff admitted in her post-match interview.
Gauff “focused and hungry”
This tactical shift appears to be inspired by watching Alcaraz’s highlight-reel variety. “I saw Carlos yesterday and I was like, ‘I’m trying to drop shot like him,'” she shared. “In my first match I won like seven drop shot points… today I won all of them.” Despite her coach’s instructions to avoid the risky shot on high-stakes points, Gauff noted with a smile that she had done exactly the opposite: “I think almost every time I drop-shotted today was on a pressure point and it worked, so…”
Now into the round of 32, the reigning Roland Garros champion continues to look like the most “focused and hungry” version of herself. Having matched her best-ever start to a season, Gauff will next face the winner of the match between 32nd seed Markéta Vondroušová and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. With her serve stabilizing and her tactical bag expanding, Gauff remains a primary contender to lift her first Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup next Saturday.
