Gauff continues to mesmerize
15- year- old earns another dramatic win
WIMBLEDON, England — Coco Gauff, 15, stood on the grass at Centre Court, pounding her chest to celebrate a 32- stroke point that forced a third set in her match Friday at Wimbledon.
In the stands, Mom joined throngs of roaring fans on their feet. By then, Gauff had twice been a point from losing in the third round to Polona Hercog of Slovenia. Again, she escaped defeat.
Most players, at any age, would fear that deficit on this imposing of a stage. Gauff, clearly, is not most players. That she, ranked 313th, played Wimbledon’s main stadium says plenty about the Florida teen’s growing celebrity. By erasing two match points to beat Hercog, 3- 6, 7- 6 ( 7), 7- 5, Gauff offered some insight into what she might become.
“Obviously, this moment is an incredible moment,” Gauff said. “I’m still excited I get to keep living it.”
Hercog, ranked 60th, used a sevengame run to grab the opening set, the first dropped by Gauff this week, and then go up, 5- 2, in the second. Serving at 30- 40, Gauff’s backhand slice dropped right on the chalk, and the rally was on.
Already the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon in the professional era, Gauff became the youngest woman to win a match at All England Club since 1991 by upsetting five- time champion Venus Williams, 39, in the first round.
Then, a win against 2017 semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova, 30. Then Hercog, 28. When asked how she might spend the prize money she has earned ( about $ 220,000), Gauff said: “I mean, I can’t buy a car, because I can’t drive.”
That made her giggle, as she did often at her news conference, smiling as she poked fun at her mother, Candi, for her arm- flailing victory dance.
“Please tell me she’s a meme,” Gauff said. “I’m so excited to go on Instagram.”
Next up: A fourth- round matchup against 2018 French Open champion and former No. 1 Simona Halep, who eliminated Victoria Azarenka, 6- 3, 6- 1.
Other women’s matches set for Monday include No. 3 seed Karolina Pliskova against Karolina Muchova, No. 8 Elina Svitolina against No. 24 Petra Martic, and Dayana Yastremska against Zhang Shuai, who beat former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 6- 4, 6- 2.
In men’s play, defending winner and top seed Novak Djokovic beat Hubert Hurkacz, 7- 5, 6- 7 ( 5), 6- 1, 6- 4. The highestranked player remaining in his path is 17th- ranked Milos Raonic, who is also the only other player on his side of the draw who has played a Grand Slam final.
No. 4 Kevin Anderson, No. 10 Karen Khachanov, No. 11 Daniil Medvedev and No. 19 Felix Auger- Aliassime all lost.
As for Gauff, whose serve hit 118 mph, her true weapon is calm amid the storm.
As Hercog said: “She’s probably older in her head than the numbers show.”