Gauff’s advancement reveals she learned to use drop shots from Alcaraz, openly stating that the situation for Black women became very difficult after Trump took office.

During the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles second round, third seed Gauff showed complete control by beating Serbian opponent Danilović 6-2, 6-2, maintaining a flawless record without losing a set in her first two matches and advancing comfortably to the last 32.

As the third seed in this year’s Australian Open women’s singles, Gauff is broadly viewed as a serious title contender. Her second-round opponent, Danilović, ranked 69th globally, had just endured an epic nearly three-hour battle in the first round, coming back from behind in the final set to defeat the 45-year-old legend Venus Williams.

Pre-match betting odds heavily favored Gauff. Her individual odds reflected her strong status as a top seed, while despite Danilović’s resilience in the first round, the significant ranking gap and physical disadvantage made the match outcome quite predictable.

The match unfolded exactly as expected, with Gauff displaying control on the Rod Laver Arena. She dominated the pace from the start, using high-quality serves and solid baseline shots to quickly build her lead. In the first set, Gauff broke serve multiple times and held her own to establish a perfect 4-0 lead. Although Danilović tried to adjust, Gauff maintained steady pressure and closed the set 6-2.

The second set was almost a repeat of the first. Gauff continued to apply intense pressure on Danilović’s service games, breaking twice. Despite Danilović’s attempts to vary the pace and find openings, Gauff’s impenetrable offense and defense left little room for success. Ultimately, Gauff sealed the match with another 6-2 set, finishing in just 1 hour and 15 minutes—a clean and decisive victory.

After the match, what sparked the most discussion was not the one-sided scoreline but a fascinating anecdote Gauff shared during her interview.

When asked about her frequent use of drop shots in the match, Gauff gave an unexpected response: “Honestly, I always thought using drop shots was a bad idea, but yesterday I watched Carlos (Alcaraz) play, and I thought, ‘I want to play drop shots like him.’”

Gauff explained that she didn’t undergo special training during the off-season but just spent “a couple of minutes practicing” drop shots at the end of regular training sessions. She revealed that she recently met Alcaraz and discussed this tactic with him, which inspired her to try it in a real match—with immediate success.

“In my first match, I won seven points with drop shots, something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. Today, every time I used a drop shot, I won the point,” Gauff said.

She even admitted to “going against” her coach’s advice. Her coach had warned her not to use this still-developing technique on crucial points, but Gauff confessed, “I think almost every time I used a drop shot today, it was on a key point—and it worked.”

After sharing a relaxed atmosphere discussing tennis on court, a question about social issues during the post-match press conference caused Gauff’s tone to grow serious.

When asked about her feelings as a Black American woman under the second Trump administration’s year in office, Gauff candidly shared her exhaustion and hope.

“I hope that in the future, our country can experience more peace, and people can speak with more kindness when discussing various topics,” she said. “Obviously, I have been open about my views for a while. Right now, I feel a bit tired talking about these issues—because as a Black woman in this country, I have to endure various injustices, even online. Seeing marginalized groups affected is very painful.”

She stated that she has been supporting causes through donations and raising her voice as much as she can, expressing her optimism: “I hope that over time, we can move past the current difficulties and continue progressing toward a better future.”

Her remarks echoed recent reports regarding the Trump administration’s policies impacting minority communities. For example, early in his second term, Trump revoked an executive order aimed at encouraging federal contractors to hire women and minorities, raising concerns about possible setbacks in equal employment opportunities.

Gauff’s comments on social issues received widespread support. Many fans and public figures praised her courage to use her platform to advocate for minority groups, recognizing it as a sign of responsibility beyond her years.

From adopting Alcaraz’s innovative tactics on court to openly sharing her genuine experiences as a minority woman off court, Gauff presented a multifaceted, three-dimensional image of the new generation athlete in Melbourne. She is not only a champion running and hitting balls on the court but also a socially aware individual who observes keenly and speaks boldly. On her journey toward tennis glory, she is writing a broader and more profound story of her own.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)