Roland-Garros: Jabeur tested by tenacious Danilovic before reaching last 16

Ons Jabeur defeated Olga Danilovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, but was given a thorough examination by the free-flowing Serb. She’ll play American Bernarda Pera in the fourth round

Jabeur at Roland-Garros, 2023 © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

June 3, 2023

French Open •Third round • completed

See draw

O. DanilovicvsO. Jabeur

Ons Jabeur came through a very stern test of her title credentials, winning against Serb qualifier Olga Danilovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of Roland-Garros.

Danilovic has made a name for herself at this tournament, putting out a firm statement of intent about the impact she can make on the women’s tour.

Danilovic impresses in Roland-Garros showing

For the first two sets, it was an exhibition of free-flowing instinctive play from the Serb, framed within a classic left-handed game that consisted of an eye-catching mix of power, precision and looping forehand spin.

Jabeur was second best for much of the first half of the match, as Danilovic’s impenetrable serve and aggressive return game succeeding in rattling the former world No. 2.

Danilovic was on a ten-match winning streak (and 20-set winning streak) coming into this third round clash, and it clearly showed. The Serb was visibly enjoying the contest and confidence emanated through her impressive repertoire of groundstrokes.

It was a high-octane encounter from the start, with the solitary break in the first set going to the 22-year-old qualifier.

The quality endured throughout the second set, but it was Jabeur who was able to make the first move, finally breaking Danilovic in the fifth game before fending off four break points in the next to hold serve for a 4-2 lead.

The tenacious Serb would not go away, however, and held serve before breaking back for 4-4.

It was a short-lived fightback in the end, though, as Jabeur broke for a second time to move into a 5-4 lead. Serving for the second set, the Tunisian’s game was again put under intense scrutiny by her opponent, as she was forced to save another break point before sealing the set with a hold of serve.

The deciding set sadly did not provide the climax that the match deserved, as Danilovic’s mental resilience ultimately began to buckle.

Moving two breaks down to trail 4-1, the Belgradian showed a glimmer of her earlier aggression by wrestling one of the breaks straight back from Jabeur.

Just as Danilovic was hitting her stride once again, however, she suffered an unfortunate fall during which she twisted her ankle. This visibly rattled the less experienced world No. 105, and she went on to lose serve again before Jabeur served out what was a very tough win.

Jabeur hoping to reach milestone of last eight at Roland-Garros

Although it was not a poor performance by any means from the world No. 7, Jabeur was left unimpressed with her own display, as revealed by her on-court comments after the match.

“If I’m not playing my best tennis it gets a little frustrating. But winning is the most important thing. I learnt that I was able to win with poor tennis.”

Jabeur has never reached the last eight at Roland-Garros – it is the only Grand Slam at which she has yet to. But she has a great chance to reach a new milestone in Paris when she faces American Bernarda Pera in the next round.

If there is one lesson the Tunisian has learnt from this third round encounter with Danilovic, however, it is never to underestimate a less experienced opponent.

In Jabeur’s own words, “I’ll need my tennis to improve for the next match”.

Paris (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 49.600.000, most recent results first):