TEEN SENSATION ADVANCES AT WIMBLEDON
LONDON — Teenager Cori Gauff pulled off a remarkable comeback as she battled back from a set down and two match points to beat Polona Hercog 36, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 for a place in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Friday.
After losing the first set, the 15-year-old American was staring at defeat with Hercog leading 5-2, but Gauff rallied to a tie-break win for a deciding set.
Slovenia’s Hercog offered a match point to Gauff at 6-5 and a long return sent Gauff through to the second week of the tournament after 2 hours and 47 minutes on Centre Court.
“I always knew I could come back no matter what the score is, I just went for my shots,” Gauff said.
“The crowd was amazing even when I was down match point they were still cheering me on. I’m thankful that they believe in me.”
Gauff is the youngest woman to qualify for Wimbledon after being granted a wild card and is the youngest person to play a third round match at Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati in 1991.
She goes on to face former world No. 1 Simona Halep on Monday after the Romanian dispatched Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 6-1.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was given a test by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz before claiming a 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4 victory for his place in the last 16.
Djokovic is aiming for his fifth title on the hallowed grass turf and the 32-year-old is hoping to successfully defend the title for a second time after his triumphs in 2014 and 2015.
Djokovic missed six break points before finally converting a seventh opportunity to move in front 6-5 before serving out the first set.
Hurkacz, who is ranked 48th in the world, levelled the match through a tie-break but the four-time champion stormed through the third frame and completed the contest on serve in three hours on Court One.
“He pushed me. He gave it his all and played a great quality match,” Djokovic said of his opponent.
“I was a bit hesitant in the play, which wasn’t the case in the first two matches. I’m really pleased with the way I finished the match.”
Kevin Anderson, who lost to Djokovic in last year’s final, was eliminated by Argentina’s Guido Pella as the South African fourth seed was beaten in a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) result.
Also in the men’s draw, Russian 10th and 11th seeds Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev are out.
Khachanov lost 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 to Spain’s Roberto BautistaAgut, while Medvedev fell in five sets to Belgium’s David Goffin.