Coco Gauff has underlined her Australian Open title credentials after a commanding straight-sets win that booked her place in the third round, as record crowds continue to pack Melbourne Park.
The American star, seeded third, swept aside Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena, setting up an all-American clash against Hailey Baptiste.
How did Coco Gauff dominate her second-round match?
Coco Gauff barely gave Danilovic room to breathe, racing into a 5-0 lead in the opening set and a 3-0 advantage in the second. From the first ball, the match looked one-sided.
Gauff won 26 of 31 first-serve points, a remarkable success rate of over 83%, and finished the contest with just 16 unforced errors. Danilovic, by contrast, struggled badly, making 18 more errors than her opponent and frequently sending shots long.
“I missed a backhand to go up 5-0, but other than that, it was perfect,” Gauff said in her on-court interview with Christopher Eubanks. “I saw Carlos yesterday, and I’m trying to drop shot like him… It’s a good shot until I miss it.”
Why was Gauff’s backhand the key weapon?
One of the clearest tactical mismatches came from Danilovic’s left-handed forehand feeding straight into Gauff’s strongest shot, her two-handed backhand.
Gauff repeatedly drove the ball cross-court, stretching Danilovic wide and forcing rushed replies. The rallies increasingly favoured Gauff’s speed and balance, particularly in longer exchanges.
By the end of the 37-minute first set, Danilovic cracked with a double fault on set point, a moment that summed up the pressure Gauff was applying.
What does this performance say about Gauff’s title chances?
After reaching the Australian Open semi-finals last year, Gauff appears more composed and efficient in 2026. Her serve, once an area of concern, looked particularly strong.
In the second set alone, the 21-year-old won 12 of 13 first-serve points, closing out the match in 77 minutes on another forced error.
The opening week in Melbourne has already delivered standout performances, mirroring the early momentum seen as Carlos Alcaraz made a strong start to the tournament.
What does this win say about Gauff’s Australian Open form?
This was Gauff at her most controlled. After reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in 2024, expectations are high, and performances like this will reassure fans and analysts alike.
Coco Gauff moves past Danilović 6-2 6-2 to advance to the third round at the #AusOpen with a dominant show #AO26 @CocoGauff @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/7lcZimsNlI
— All About Sports (@sportsreplay) January 21, 2026
In the second set, the 21-year-old won 12 of 13 first-serve points, showing growing authority on serve, an area she has worked hard to improve since winning the US Open in 2023.
The match was wrapped up in 77 minutes, ending on another Danilovic error.
Who is Hailey Baptiste, and why is the third-round clash interesting?
Gauff will now face compatriot Hailey Baptiste, ranked world No. 70, who reached the Australian Open third round for the first time in her career.
Baptiste produced a confident 6-2, 6-1 win over Australian qualifier Storm Hunter in just 63 minutes, hitting 24 winners to Hunter’s seven.
This all-American tie guarantees a US player in the last 16 and offers Baptiste a rare chance to test herself against a two-time Grand Slam champion on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
Why is this Australian Open drawing so much attention?
Tournament organisers have confirmed record-breaking attendance across the first four days of this year’s Australian Open, with packed arenas and strong global TV figures.
While the event is held in Australia, British interest remains strong, with UK broadcasters providing extensive coverage and British fans closely following the women’s singles draw as the title race heats up.
