In London, Coco Gauff demonstrated her fondness for No. 1 Court at Wimbledon, where she previously defeated Venus Williams in 2019 on her Wimbledon debut at only 15 years old. Gauff secured a win on Wednesday against qualifier Anca Todoni with a score of 6-2, 6-1 to progress to the third round at the prestigious All England Club. Gauff expressed her attachment to Court 1, stating that it holds a special significance for her in her on-court interview.
The victory not only propelled Gauff, the No. 2 seed, further away from her first-round exit last year but also provided a chance to reflect on the lessons learned from that experience. Gauff, the U.S. Open champion, acknowledged the pressures and expectations present in the world of professional sports, emphasizing the importance of remembering that, at its core, tennis is a game and should be enjoyed.
Anca Todoni, the 19-year-old from Romania and a Grand Slam debutant, faced Gauff in the match, with Gauff acknowledging moments where she could have played more cleanly during the competition. Gauff’s remarkable journey at Wimbledon began five years ago when she defeated the five-time Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams, in her Grand Slam debut, ultimately reaching the last 16.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz found himself trailing early in the first set against Aleksander Vukic before turning the match around to win 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-2. Alcaraz’s victory sets up a compelling third-round encounter with No. 29 Frances Tiafoe, who expressed his determination to challenge the defending champion. The Spanish player responded playfully, indicating his readiness for the upcoming match.
In additional matches, Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was defeated in the second round by No. 19 Emma Navarro with a score of 6-4, 6-1. Meanwhile, No. 1 Jannik Sinner overcame Matteo Berrettini in a thrilling contest at Centre Court with a score of 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (4) in an all-Italian battle. Danielle Collins, seeded No. 11, secured a first-round victory over Clara Tauson with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), completing a match that had been suspended the previous night.
Beatriz Haddad Maia, ranked No. 20, progressed to the third round after defeating Magdalena Frech with a score of 7-5, 6-3. The Wimbledon tournament continues to deliver thrilling matches and compelling storylines as top players compete on the iconic grass courts.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
