The revamped US Open’s first mixed doubles edition is approaching, and Olga Danilovic will team up with her idol Novak Djokovic for the challenge. Danilovic called playing mixed doubles with Djokovic “one of the best moments in my career” after their run in the 2024 United Cup, a pairing that helped set the stage for her ongoing ascent.
Danilovic’s breakout year continued to unfold in 2024. She notched a significant win at the Australian Open, defeating then-world No. 6 Jessica Pegula 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 in the third round. “I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s what maturing looks like,” the Belgrade native told Serbian media following the match. She echoed a similar sentiment after reaching the Roland Garros second round last year, stressing she’s grown more mature and less prone to get carried away. All of this progress has been underpinned by a dedicated coaching setup.
Who guides Olga Danilovic?
The core of Danilovic’s recent success comes from Pepo (José) Clavet and Damjan Peterlin. Clavet, with a storied coaching résumé that includes work with players like Alex Corretja, Feliciano López, and Karen Khachanov, is listed on Danilovic’s official WTA profile as a mentor. A SportKlub report adds that Clavet’s role extends beyond mentorship, describing him as more in charge in her current program. Danilovic also noted that Damjan Peterlin has joined the team, though she described keeping certain aspects private as part of maintaining a tight-knit team.
Coaching history and collaborators
Over the years, Danilovic has worked with a variety of coaches, including Àlex Corretja, who has helped shape her game since 2018. She has also trained with Serbian figures such as Tatjana Ječmenica. The long-standing Spanish influence on her career has been a defining thread: she moved to Spain, built ties with Spanish coaching circles, and even earned a nickname from Tennis Majors—“La española”—a nod to how Spanish fans have embraced her. The Corretja-Danilovic link eventually brought Pepo Clavet into the fold, with Damjan Peterlin added to the mix as the team evolved. Behind the scenes, she has worked with others beyond the primary coaches, including hitting partners who contribute to her development.
One notable addition is Alejandro Garcia Cenzano, a 28-year-old who has served as a hitting partner for Nadal, Alcaraz, and Badosa. Danilovic said Garcia Cenzano “has a great relationship” with Pepo and is on the same page about her game and her as a person, stressing that this harmony is vital to her progress.
Danilovic’s recent results and what they show
Danilovic has always excelled on clay, and observers note that when she’s confident, she can beat almost anyone, especially on the surface. Her trajectory over the past two years under Clavet and Peterlin shows in several areas. After reaching the French Open third round in 2023, she advanced to the fourth round in 2024. She also reached the Australian Open fourth round and the second round at Wimbledon, illustrating a steady climb up the majors’ ladder. Her year-end ranking moved into the top 50—she sits at No. 41 after climbing into the top 50 in 2024, with a career high of No. 32 that year.
On serve and on hard courts, Danilovic has shown notable improvement. Her service games won percentage sits at 71.4%, and she has flipped her hard-court record from 0-2 in 2023 to 11-4 in 2024. The improvements aren’t just in the numbers; Djokovic himself has highlighted physical gains, noting her stronger shoulders and overall conditioning as signs of a dedicated off-season. “Just look at her shoulders—you can tell she’s done the work in the off-season, and it’s already showing in her game,” Djokovic said during her Australian Open clash with Pegula.
Is the Pepo Clavet–Damjan Peterlin partnership paying off? The results and the surrounding commentary suggest yes. The coaching duo appears to be helping Danilovic sharpen her game consistently, and her partnership with Djokovic in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles adds another compelling chapter to her ongoing development.
Summary
Olga Danilovic’s rise over the last year-plus has been anchored by a strong coaching team (Pepo Clavet and Damjan Peterlin) and strategic support from a cadre of practitioners, including a notable hitting partner in Alejandro Garcia Cenzano. Her climb—from outside the top 100 at the start of 2024 to the top 50 and a career-high 32 in 2024—has been marked by deepening maturity, stronger physical conditioning, and substantial success on hard courts. Now pairing with Djokovic for the mixed doubles at the US Open, she carries momentum into a new phase of competition, with optimism about how far the collaboration can take her.
Value and outlook
– The Djokovic–Danilovic pairing signals a potential movement beyond single-discipline success into doubles a bit more seriously, which could broaden her overall competitiveness.
– Her ongoing relationship with Pepo Clavet and Damjan Peterlin, plus support from experienced hitting partners, suggests a sustainable model for continued growth.
– If she maintains her improvement on hard courts and leverages her clay strengths, she could challenge deeper runs in Grand Slams and make a meaningful impact in doubles events as well.
Overall, Danilovic’s story is one of steady, methodical progression, aided by a seasoned coaching team and a high-profile doubles partner, with a hopeful outlook for continued impact on the WTA tour and in grand slam events.