Beginner's Guide: Who is Montenegro's Danka Kovinic? Get to know first US Open test for Serena Williams

At Flushing Meadows, all eyes will be on Serena Williams in her farewell tournament. The 23-time major singles champion is set to play Monday, likely under the lights in the evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But what about her opponent? Danka Kovinic presents a first-time meeting for the icon, though she’s hardly an unknown among tennis circles. Our first US Open Beginner’s Guide:

She turned pro in 2010

Kovinic has been ranked as high as No. 46 (back in 2016) and after a two-and-half-year stint outside of the Top 100 (April 2017-October 2019), has been a mainstay amongst the game's elite. The 27-year-old is a three-time runner-up on the WTA Tour, with her biggest final effort coming at the WTA 500 stop in Charleston last year (l. to Kudermetova). She’s currently the world No. 80.

Her best major showings have come this year

Prior to 2022, Kovinic owned two match wins on the major stage. She’s won double that amount this year thanks to third-round showings at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. In Melbourne, she ousted incoming US Open champion Emma Raducanu; in Paris, she eliminated No. 25 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who at the time had been the closest to ending Iga Swiatek’s unbeaten run.

Constant Groundbreaker

January’s upset of Raducanu was historic, as Kovinic became the first player from Montenegro to ever reach the third round of a Grand Slam event. She’s also one of just two players from her nation currently on the WTA singles rankings—countrywoman Vladica Babic is more than 900 spots behind. It’s safe to say Kovinic is a perennial flag bearer. A further example: in 2016, she represented her country at the Rio Olympics.

“It's a huge thing for me and hopefully there will be many more kids, boys and girls, following my path in the future,” she said in Australia. “I will try to help them out to reach my level and to be even better than I am today.”

Friends with JJ

“I was 10 the first time when I met her. Since then, we’re very good friends. I admire her in every single way,” Kovinic said about Jelena Jankovic in an interview with Steve Weissman last year.

When Kovinic was a junior without a sponsorship deal, Jankovic provided her with dresses. “I was super proud to wear her clothes.” The two later had the opportunity to share the court at Bogota in 2014 when Kovinic was finding her footing on tour.

F1 Fan

She binge-watched Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” during the pandemic—her two brothers proving to be a strong influence on her growing fascination with the adrenaline-heavy sport. Her favorite driver? Daniel Ricciardo. “I love the way he is. He’s always smiling, in a good mood, trying to be positive,” she told Weissman.

Kovinic backed the idea of having a similar show spotlighting life on tour before Netflix announced plans to produce a behind-the-scenes series.

Pumped For Next Week's Occasion

Kovinic’s tweet says it all.