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Tuesday 9 July 2019

Coco Gauff’s captivating Wimbledon ends against former No. 1

al all won in straight sets
and are all in the quarters
of a major tournament for
the 24th time; one member
of the Big Three won the
title at 20 of those.
Querrey hit 25 aces and
saved all four break points
he faced to get past Ten-
nys Sandgren 6-4, 6-7 (7),
7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) in the first
all-American men’s Week
2 matchup at Wimbledon
in 19 years. Pella erased a
two-set deficit to edge 2016
runner-up Milos Raonic 3-6,
4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 8-6.
Halep is the highest-seed-
ed woman remaining, af-
ter Barty was joined on the
way out Monday by No.
3 Karolina Pliskova, who
twice served for the victory
in a 4-6, 7-5, 13-11 loss to
Muchova, and No. 6 Petra
Kvitova, a two-time cham-
pion eliminated by Konta
4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
For Gauff, this was her sev-
enth match in short order
— three in qualifying, four in
the main draw — and while
she insisted she wasn’t fa-
tigued, she looked it.
Still, with serves reaching
119 mph, a dynamic back-
Romania’s Simona Halep shakes hands with United States’ Cori “Coco” Gauff after defeating her in a women’s singles match hand that landed near lines
against on day seven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 8, 2019. and aggressive volleying,
Associated Press Gauff made an impression
By HOWARD FENDRICH because you don’t really That’s certainly true. title at a grass-court tuneup on anyone who watched
AP Tennis Writer expect this kind of support She improved to 14-1 on tournament. her.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) when you’re in another grass courts this season “Today wasn’t my day. I Not to mention anyone
— Out of escapes, out of country, not your home and reached the first major didn’t win a tennis match; who played her.
surprises, Coco Gauff knew country. I really did feel quarterfinal of her career in it’s not the end of the “It’s a great performance. I
her captivating Wimbledon like I was probably playing 30 appearances. world,” she said. “It’s dis- think if she keeps going, she
ride at age 15 was nearing in New York. I’m just really It’ll come against yet an- appointing right now. Give will be (in the) top 10 soon,”
its conclusion. happy that people believe other player who has me an hour or so, we’ll be Halep said. “She will be a
The thousands of specta- in me,” said Gauff, who topped the WTA rankings, all good. The sun’s still go- very tough opponent for
tors at Court No. 1 on Mon- beat Venus Williams in the Serena Williams, who will ing to come up tomorrow.” everybody. If she keeps do-
day realized it, too, so they first round for quite a Grand be participating in her 14th Tuesday’s other quarterfi- ing what she did here, she’s
made sure to show their ap- Slam tournament debut. quarterfinal at Wimbledon nal on the top half of the going to get a lot of confi-
preciation for the youngest “I wasn’t feeling my best, alone. women’s draw will be No. dence and she can win big
qualifier at the All England I wasn’t playing my best,” Barty began perfectly, 19 Johanna Konta of Britain tournaments soon.”
Club in the professional era Gauff said as she wiped winning the first game of against Barbora Strycova Now the trick will be to
and youngest Week 2 par- away tears at her news the match this way: 112 of the Czech Republic. On manage those sorts of ex-
ticipant since 1991. conference, where she mph ace, 102 mph ace, the bottom half, it’ll be No. pectations.
Fans, most of whom prob- noted she wasn’t sure why 110 mph ace, 108 mph 8 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine Gauff is, after all, too young
ably hadn’t heard of Gauff she needed a visit from a ace. She hit another pair against Karolina Muchova to drive a car. She is tak-
until last week, rose and doctor in the second set, of aces in her next service of the Czech Republic, and ing high school courses.
roared as she fended off “but they were still support- game and finished with 12. Halep against Zhang Shuai Instead of hanging out at
the initial two match points ing me, no matter what.” But Riske simply played so of China. a mall or going to see a
she faced against 2018 While Gauff couldn’t get cleanly, delivering twice as The men’s quarterfinals movie with friends or work-
French Open champion Si- past former No. 1 Ha- many winners as unforced Wednesday are No. 1 No- ing as a camp counselor
mona Halep. It was reminis- lep, another American, errors, 30-15, and won her vak Djokovic vs. No. 21 Da- Monday, there she was
cent of the way the Gauff 55th-ranked Alison Riske, fourth consecutive three- vid Goffin, No. 2 Roger Fe- at Wimbledon at 1 p.m.,
began a comeback vic- stopped the 15-match win- setter in the tournament. derer vs. No. 8 Kei Nishikori, standing in the tunnel that
tory in her previous match. ning streak of the current “There aren’t many holes No. 3 Rafael Nadal against leads to the court with her
This time, though, Gauff No. 1, Ash Barty, eliminating in her game, full-stop,” said 65th-ranked Sam Querrey, father, Corey.
could not come through, her 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Barty, who followed up her and No. 23 Roberto Bau- He draped his arm around
beaten by the older, more “Right now, Ash is playing first Grand Slam champi- tista Agut against No. 26 her shoulders, then parted
experienced Halep 6-3, 6-3. well,” Riske said. “I believe onship at Roland Garros Guido Pella. ways by giving his daughter
“It was really surprising, that I am, as well.” last month by grabbing a Djokovic, Federer and Nad- a peck on the cheek.q