Coco Gauff, who gained international recognition at Wimbledon in 2019 by defeating Venus Williams at just 15, faced a unique challenge in the third round of the 2024 tournament.
Playing against British qualifier Sonay Kartal on Friday, Gauff had to contend not only with her opponent but also with a crowd largely cheering for Kartal.
Despite initial nerves about the home-court advantage of her British competitor, Gauff secured a 6-4, 6-0 victory on No. 1 Court. She acknowledged the unusual situation, noting:
“I think this is my first time ever playing a British player here, so I was a little bit nervous honestly, going in. Because I knew you guys would be for her. Which is totally understandable.”
Gauff’s performance in the first set was tightly contested, but she found her rhythm in the second set to decisively move into the fourth round, a milestone she hasn’t reached since 2021.
Reflecting on her match against Kartal, Gauff praised her opponent’s skill, stating:
“She was playing at a high level, she wasn’t giving me much to work with, and she does a good job with mixing up variety, so you never feel settled.”
Following a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon last year to fellow American Sofia Kenin, Gauff rebounded to win her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. Her next challenge at Wimbledon is another American, Emma Navarro, who Gauff defeated in Auckland earlier this year.
Navarro, who reached the fourth round of the French Open in June, expressed her readiness for the rematch, saying:
“I know I have the level inside of me that can beat a player like her. It’s maybe just a matter of doing it on a bigger stage.”
Gauff is optimistic about having the crowd’s support in her upcoming match, drawing from her experiences at the U.S. Open. She shared:
“Coming from experience playing at home in the U.S., you always just play better and do better.” She also thanked the British crowd for their support, adding, “Thankfully you guys are pretty nice to me, so that helped.”
Gauff’s victory sets up an exciting encounter with Navarro, promising another thrilling chapter in her Wimbledon journey.
