(Wimbledon) Coco Gauff (world No. 2) logically qualified for the round of 16 at the expense of the unexpected British player Sonay Kartal (298e) 6-4, 6-0, Friday at Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old American, winner of the last US Open, will face her compatriot Emma Navarro (17e) to try to play his first quarter-final at Wimbledon.
Gauff made a stunning entrance into Wimbledon in 2019, beating Venus Williams in the first round before reaching the last 16 at the age of 15, but she has yet to reach the quarter-finals on the London grass.
Emma Raducanu defeats Sakkari
PHOTO GLYN KIRK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu, 135e world and beneficiary of an invitation, will find the 8it is Grand Slam final for the first time since her triumph at the 2021 US Open thanks to her victory at Wimbledon on Friday against Greece’s Maria Sakkari (9e) 6-2, 6-3.
“Today I really enjoyed myself, I enjoyed every moment. I was like, ‘you don’t know how many times you’re going to get to play on a packed Centre Court’ so I’m really grateful for the support,” she told the crowd.
“What I’m most proud of is the way I stayed focused and determined on every point. Maria (Sakkari) is a player of the top 10she is difficult to play, she has incredible weapons, I knew that I would have to fight,” she stressed, adding that she did everything not to “let herself be distracted by the score.”
In addition to her qualification, Raducanu also obtained the second victory of her career against a player from top 10 world, after the one last week against the American Jessica Pegula (5e) in Eastbourne.
The 21-year-old Briton had already reached 8it is final at Wimbledon in 2021 for her first participation. In the process, she created a huge surprise by winning the US Open after qualifying.
But since then, between injuries and poor performances, she had not gone beyond the second round in a Grand Slam.
This time, she will face New Zealander Lulu Sun (123)e and from the qualifications) to try to reach the quarter-finals.