Danka Kovinic, the 27-year-old Montenegrin who will try to finish Serena’s career

She’s still getting used to the spotlight – and it doesn’t get any brighter than a Grand Slam clash against the greatest of all time. Find out what makes Danka Kovinic tick

Danka Kovinic, 2022 Australian Open | © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Sasa Ozmo

August 27, 2022

“What a moment! Looking forward to this,“ posted Danka Kovinic on Twitter ahead of her upcoming US Open first round with Serena Williams. And she actually means it now. It took a while for the Montenegrin, who currently sits at number 80 in the world – but held a career-high number 46 in 2016 – to truly believe that she belongs on the biggest tennis stages, but now she relishes every opportunity she gets.

It does not get much bigger than the chance to be a part of the last tournament in the career of probably the greatest female player of all time.

Member of Tipsarevic academy

27-year-old Kovinic has been part of the Janko Tipsarevic Academy since March 2019. Tipsarevic, former world No 8, mentored her and restored her confidence. On top of that, he adapted Kovinic’s playing style, convincing her that she does not need to go for broke all the time.

“Janko told me to stay aggressive with my shots, but not to try to finish off points after two, four shots constantly, which I used to do, I was taught that way. To some degree, I was shying away from long rallies thinking I cannot play in that way.”

Standing at 1.69m, Kovinic is an aggressive baseliner solid off both wings – she prefers to attack with her forehand, although she can flatten out her two-handed backhand at times. Danka is particulary fond of drop shot, which could prove useful against Serena, but her second serve is a weakness and will probably be heavily exploited by the American great.

Kovinic was prone to huge ups and downs during matches in the earlier stages of her career, but she is more composed now and won’t be intimidated by the occasion, something which also happened in the past.

Kovinic’s work with Tipsarevic paid off – Kovinic has had a few great strings of results, but only to be disrupted by injuries time and time again. She never won a WTA title but reached four finals and beat three Top 10 in career, Karolina Pliskova being the latest in March this year in Chicago.

It happened in 2022 as well – Kovinic progressed to the third round of the Australian Open beating Jang Su-jeong and Emma Raducanu before falling to Simona Halep. It was her best result at Slams, a feat she would go on to repeat at the French Open – Kovinic defeated Kucova and Schmiedlova and then pushed the future champion Iga Swiatek in the second set before succumbing to the Pole 6-3, 7-5.

When I was younger and even better ranked, it was like I was not aware of the success I had, particularly having in mind that tennis in Montenegro is not developed
Danka Kovinic

“It is a great satisfaction to play her. If I am going to make progress, I should be able to win against any opponent, including her,” Kovinic told journalists before her encounter with Swiatek, a reflection of her new-found confident attitude. She is not afraid anymore and that could prove extremely important when facing Serena under the lights of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“When I was younger and even better ranked, it was like I was not aware of the success I had, particularly having in mind that tennis in Montenegro is not developed,“ said Kovinic.

Kovinic started tennis aged 5

“For example, I would be pleased with just playing at a Slam, being there, that was sort of my goal,” Kovinic added. “I did not have the type of confidence I have today. Consistent effort and experience have changed my way of thinking. One needs to be persistent and to believe – there are many players who have had the best runs and ranking of their careers while they were close to 30 years old.”

Danka Kovinic, 2022 | © Imago / Panoramic

A hyperactive child looking for fun, she has taken up tennis at the age of five in Herceg Novi – a small, but beautiful and picturesque city at the Montenegrin seaside.

“You could see me all the time in the entrance of our building hitting a sponge ball with a plastic racquet,” Kovinic recalled laughingly in her interview with Tennis Majors last year, “I think my mom still keeps that racquet somewhere in the house.”

Struggling a back injury

Ever since her run at Roland-Garros, though, there have not been many reasons to smile. Kovinic has struggled with a back injury. She did play in Eastbourne, but then she decided to pull the plug for a while. After a one-month break, she came back, only to lose all three matches since then. Switching back to hard courts did not prove lucky either – she lost to Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in Cincinnati qualifiers (6-0, 6-2) and to Magdalena Frech (7-6 [3], 6-2) at Granby Challenger.

Just being around Jankovic, watching her routines and practicing with her meant the world to me.
Danka Kovinic

Back in 2008, Kovinic’s tennis hero played Serena Williams in New York too. It was Jelena Jankovic’s lone Grand Slam final, which she went on to lose (6-4, 7-5). Growing up, Kovinic idolised Jankovic and the two became friends, with the older woman providing precious advice and sharing her various experiences on the WTA tour.

Jelena Jankovic, Madrid 2010 | © Panoramic

“Just being around her, watching her routines and practicing with her meant the world to me. I tried to soak it all up, she helped me a lot, particularly in the early stages of my career,” Kovinic told Tennis Majors.

Who knows, maybe Danka will ring Jelena again to seek advice on how to play Serena. She would certainly use it as she looks to achieve what would be the greatest victory of her career.