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Wimbledon: Coco Gauff Completes Stunning Comeback To Reach Last 16

  Teen sensation Coco Gauff showed remarkable resilience in saving two match points to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon, beating Polona Hercog 3-6, 7-6 … Continue reading Wimbledon: Coco Gauff Completes Stunning Comeback To Reach Last 16


US player Cori Gauff jumps during a session on the practice courts at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2019, on the fourth day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament. Coco Gauff, the 15-year-old schoolgirl who stunned five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round, continued her Wimbledon dream debut on Wednesday when she eased into the last 32 and claimed: “I can beat anyone.” Next up for Gauff is a last 32 clash against world number 60 Polona Hercog of Slovenia on July 5. Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Coco Gauff at a session on the practice courts at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2019, on the fourth day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament. Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

 

Teen sensation Coco Gauff showed remarkable resilience in saving two match points to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon, beating Polona Hercog 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 on Friday.

The 15-year-old, who had already claimed the scalps of Venus Williams and 2017 semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova, was not as assured as in her previous performances.

However, her 28-year-old opponent let her nerves overcome her at the most crucial moment, double faulting on her second match point in the second set.

Gauff came through in the tie break which went back and forth as neither player could take advantage of mini-breaks.

Hercog, who has yet to make the last 16 of a Grand Slam in 11 years of trying, went off for a medical time out at the end of the second set.

However, despite being broken by Gauff early on she broke back only for her serve to falter once again as she served to stay in the match.

Whilst her parents stood to applaud their daughter, Gauff danced a little jig of joy as the umpire called the score at the end of the 2hr 47 minute marathon.

“I’m just super relieved that it’s over, it was a long match,” said Gauff.

“She (Hercog) was playing unbelievable. It was my first match on Centre Court, people say Court One is my court, maybe Centre can be too.

“I knew I could come back in the second set so I just kept going for my shots.”

Gauff, who still has a way to go to emulate the then 15-year-old Jennifer Capriati reaching the semi-finals in 1991, will play former world number one Simona Halep of Romania for a place in the last eight.

AFP