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SPORTS Saturday 6 July 2019
15-year-old Coco Gauff still unfazed, unbeaten at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP)
— It was easy to forget that
Coco Gauff is still just 15
as she stood on the grass
of Centre Court, pound-
ing her chest and shout-
ing, "Let's go! Come on!" to
celebrate a 32-stroke point
that forced a third set in her
match Friday evening at
Wimbledon.
Up in the stands, Mom rose
to pump a fist and yell,
"Yes!" Thousands of spec-
tators jumped out of their
seats, too, roaring. By then,
Gauff already twice had
been a point from losing in
the third round to Polona
Hercog of Slovenia.
Most players, no matter the
age, would not be able to
find a path past that kind
of a deficit on this impos-
ing a stage, would not be
able to handle that sort of
stress and figure out a way.
Gauff is, quite clearly, not
most players. That much
has been established. How
far can she go, both this
fortnight and in the future? Serbia's Novak Djokovic gets to his feet after returning to Poland's Hubert Hurakacz in a Men's singles match during day five of the
The tennis world is watch- Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 5, 2019.
ing, waiting to learn the an- Associated Press
swers.
That Gauff, ranked 313th semifinalist Magdalena Ry- Monday will be No. 3 seed the U.S. 7-6 (1), 6-2, 6-1. draw, and then go up 5-2
and facing another un- barikova, who is 30, before Karolina Pliskova against No. 10 Karen Khachanov, in the second.
seeded player, was sched- getting past Hercog, 28. Karolina Muchova, No. 8 No. 11 Daniil Medvedev With Gauff serving at 30-40,
uled to appear at Wimble- When a reporter wanted Elina Svitolina against No. and No. 19 Felix Auger-Ali- Hercog was a point from
don's main stadium says to know how Gauff might 24 Petra Martic, and Day- assime all lost. victory. But the teen con-
plenty about what a sensa- spend the prize money she's ana Yastremska against "It's impossible to say who jured up a backhand slice
tion the Floridian already is. already earned of about Zhang Shuai, who defeat- is going to figure things out winner that dropped right
That she won this one, and 175,000 pounds ($220,000), ed former No. 1 Caroline more than the others to do on the chalk — a shot she
how she did so — erasing she replied: "I mean, I can't Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2. what it takes to win Slams," only recently added to her
a pair of match points and buy a car, because I can't The top half of the men's Anderson said. repertoire. After Gauff's ag-
coming back to beat Her- drive." draw, meanwhile, saw That could be said of Gauff, gressive style paid off there,
cog 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5 — of- That made her giggle, more in its series of upsets, of course, but she sure is it was Hercog who really
fer some insight into what as did some of the other leaving defending cham- looking like someone who went into a shell, playing
Gauff might become. things she said at her news pion Novak Djokovic with can go far in the coming so cautiously and making
"Obviously, this moment conference through a per- what seems like little resis- years. mistake after mistake. A big
is an incredible moment," manent smile, including her tance in his road to the final. She has a big serve, dial- one came when Hercog
Gauff said. "I'm still excited unprompted opening line The No. 1 seed got a brief ing it up to 118 mph on served for the match at 5-3
I get to keep living it." about Jayden Smith's new test Friday before quickly Friday — only Hercog and and held her second match
As it is, she was the young- album, her plea for tickets righting himself and getting Serena Williams have hit point: She double-faulted.
est player to qualify for to a Beyonce concert and past Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, one faster this week — Eventually they headed to
Wimbledon in the profes- poking fun at her mother, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4. No one else and good groundstrokes a tiebreaker, Gauff's first at
sional era, winning three Candi, for the way she on that side of the bracket off both wings, along with a tour-level event.
matches last week against waved her arms overhead is ranked higher than 17th; some touch and guile. And Yet another reminder how
higher-ranked women in when Friday's victory was that's the spot held by Milos what she possesses, above new all of this is for her. Her
the preliminary rounds. over. Raonic, who is also the only all, is some real calm amid play then offered yet an-
Then, by upsetting five-time "Please tell me she's a other player who ever has a storm. other reminder how capa-
champion Venus Williams, meme," Gauff said. "I'm been to a Grand Slam final. As Hercog perfectly put it: ble she is of handling it all.
who is 39, in the first round so excited to go on Insta- Those exiting Friday includ- "She's probably older in her "We've been working on
of the main event, Gauff gram." ed last year's runner-up, head than the numbers her poise all year," Gauff's
became the youngest Next up: A fourth-round No. 4 Kevin Anderson, who show." father, Corey, said ear-
woman to win a match at matchup against 2018 was knocked off by No. 26 Hercog, who is ranked lier in the week. "After that
the All England Club since French Open champion Guido Pella 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (4). 60th, and is now 0-4 in third- comes together, then you
1991, when Jennifer Capri- and former No. 1 Simona Pella beat 2017 runner-up round matches at majors, really can improve your
ati reached the semifinals Halep, who eliminated Marin Cilic last year at Wim- used a seven-game run game, because when
at 15. two-time major champ Vic- bledon and now will face to grab the opening set, you're poised, you're not
That was followed by a win toria Azarenka 6-3, 6-1. 2016 runner-up Raonic, the first dropped by Gauff that emotional. You can
against 2017 Wimbledon Other women's contests who beat Reilly Opelka of in qualifying or the main troubleshoot."q