Teen sensation Cori still has reservations
CORI GAUFF is continuing to take each day at a time – however frustrating it is for the staff at the hotel at which she and her family are staying.
Yesterday, father Corey admitted that despite the 15-year-old’s incredible success, he is refusing to book their stay inWimbledon beyond the end of the next match.
“We keep on having to extend our stay, but that’s great,” he told the WTA website ahead of Gauff’s fourth-round match against Romania’s Simona Halep on No 1 Court this afternoon.
“First we were just booked for a week, and then we extended that for another week, and then we’re having to extend that. Coco wanted to get to the second week and now she really wants to win the tournament.”
No apology is ever made for Gauff’s ambitions and she has already outlined her aim to become a multiple grand slam champion.
Instead, she seems to just take everything – including, following Saturday’s thrilling win over Polona Hercog, a message from former First Lady Michelle Obama – in her stride.
“A lot has happened fast,” Corey said. “She has played a lot of matches, and got a lot of attention. It’s been great for her.
“She’s pretty grounded.We don’t talk much about the tennis once the match is over or once we have prepped for the next match.
“It’s just another tennis match. I know it is Wimbledon, but to me she’s still learning how to be a better tennis player. I just say to her that she’s getting a lot of great experience that’s going to help her in the future.”
That immediate future is her match-up with Halep, the former French Open champion and ranked seventh in the world.
“Looking at her being positive under duress, and fighting, that made me proud,” her father said.
“Simona is a great competitor – she competes really hard. Hopefully my daughter is going to step up and be ready for that challenge.
“Look, all the moments are special. It’s her first Grand Slam in the main draw and she played a legend,Venus Williams, on No1 Court.
“That stood out a little bit, looking at the crowd, and how beautiful that was.
“Then getting the chance to do that over and over.
“All of it has been pretty special, something she can always remember. This is a pretty special place.” But on Centre Court she will face a two-time champion with an even more remarkable comeback story.
Petra Kvitova feared her career was over when she was attacked by a knife-wielding burglar in her home in the Czech Republic in December 2016.
She underwent four hours of surgery on her left racket hand before recovering to make an emotional return at the 2017 French Open.
The Wimbledon winner in 2011 and 2014 is now back up to world No6 after seeing her attacker Radim Zondra sentenced to eight years in prison in March. Kvitova, who gave her evidence to court via video link so she did not have to face the accused, told how a man rang her doorbell and claimed he was there to check her boiler. “He asked me to turn on the hot water tap and at that moment I had a knife against my neck,” she said. “I grabbed it with both hands. I held the blade with my left hand. I snatched it away, I fell on the floor and there was blood everywhere.”
Since returning to action, Kvitova has won eight tournaments and reached the Australian Open final in January.
“I always knew I am a fighter on the court but I never really knew that I am an even bigger fighter off the court,” she said. World No 18 Konta said: “She can only inspire people for sure. It is a true testament to her passion for the game, her love for the game.