By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 5, 2019
Coco Gauff's fairy-tale run just got better: the 15-year-old qualifier fought off two match points stunning Polona Hercog, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, to roar into the Wimbledon round of 16.
Photo credit: Getty
Champions from Pete Sampras to Roger Federer have called Centre Court Wimbledon a tennis cathedral.
Today, a spirited Coco Gauff turned this place into a bounce house.
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When Polona Hercog's lob landed long on match point, Gauff flung her Head racquet aside jumping for joy taking 15,000 roaring fans along for this wild ride that capped by thrilling climax.
The 15-year-old American qualifier fought off two match points stunning Polona Hercog, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, to charge into the Wimbledon round of 16 and continue her Wimbledon dream debut.
Coco-mania is magical and real.
Stymied by her opponent's heavy forehand and devious slice backhand for a set-and-a-half, a gutsy Gauff slid a slice backhand off the sideline to save the first match point in the eighth game of the second set then dodged a second match point when a tight Hercog double-faulted into net.
The 15-year-old Floridian is the youngest woman to reach the round of 16 since a 14-year-old Jennifer Capriati advanced to the final four in 1991.
"I always knew I can come back no matter what the score is," Gauff said afterward. "I just went for my shots and I'm happy that slice went in."
This comeback victory vaults Gauff into the Top 150 for the first time and a round of 16 showdown with 2018 Roland Garros champion Simona Halep, who swept Victoria Azarenka in a battle of former world No. 1 players.
Should Gauff continue this dream drive through the field and topple Halep she'd crack the Top 100.
This was a coming-of-age match for Gauff, who looked down and out at 3-6, 2-5. While her prior two main-draw wins showcased her athleticism and explosiveness, today's comeback showed Gauff's grit, guts and problem-solving skills as she confronted Hercog's confounding slice backhand with her own slice and a willingness to move forward in the court and take the ball out of the air.
"She's very young," Hercog said of the teenager who played with poise beyond her years. "Of course she has the mentality to do it. Very fit. Yeah, of course she has a big future, I think.
"I would say, yeah, she's probably older in her head than the numbers show, so that's definitely one of the things."
Struggling to tame her stray toss while the Centre Court crowd cheered encouragement, Gauff fell into a triple-set point hole. The qualifier clanked her fifth double fault as Hercog seized 13 of the last 14 points to snatch the 36-minute opening set.
The youngster who had exhibited so much poise through this magical Wimbledon run by upsetting her idol, Venus Williams before toppling 2017 semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova in round two, showed signs of her age and inexperience as Hercog burst through six straight games to take control.
When Gauff missed a forehand to drop her fifth consecutive game she dropped her Head racquet onto the lawn looking like she'd run out of answers down 6-3, 2-0.
The teenager slipped chasing a short slice, shoveled back her reply only to see Hercog spin a forehand pass for match point.
A fearless Gauff slide a slice slathered with sidespin off the sideline to save match point then made a stunning, running get on a lunging forehand to eventually hold for 3-5.
Serving for her first career Grand Slam round of 16, Hercog dislodged a puff of paste from the sideline with an ace for a second match point.
Contesting her 36th career Grand Slam, the 28-year-old Hercog was one point from her first major fourth round appearance.
This time, nerves constricted her right arm as she double faulted away her second match point. Again Gauff played bold sticking a shot off the sideline for a second break point. Hercog blinked and netted a forehand as Gauff broke back for 4-5.
"I wouldn't say choking, like she hit lines and, I mean, that's nothing I can do about," Hercog said. "I mean, it's difficult to close some matches like that also, you know."
A revitalized Gauff rattled out errors from the veteran streaking through a hold at 15 for 5-all.
Both women showed nerves in a topsy-turvy tie break.
Moving backward, Gauff hammered a smash then laced a backhand down for set point at 6-5 in the breaker.
Hercog saved the set point, but showed signs of nerves stopping play to challenge a shot she thought was long. Hawk-Eye showed the ball touched the line giving Gauff another set point, which Hercog denied.
A high backhand smash brought the teenager a third set point.
The ensuing 32-shot rally was a backhand slice-fest as Hercog repeatedly dabbed short slices in the court daring the youngster to make something happen. Gauff moved forward and fired a forehand swing volley to seal the second set with a massive fist pump.
Seeing her chance slip away, the 60th-ranked Slovenian took treatment for an apparent back strain before the final set.
Gauff burst out to a 4-1 lead only to see Hercog battle back setting up a riveting climax.
Elevating her level in the decider, Gauff dropped just six points on serve in the final set. Ninety-minutes after she saved her first match point, Gauff earned a match point when Hercog hooked a forehand into net.
When the final lob bounded beyond the baseline, Gauff jumped into history while her parents danced in ecstasy in the support box.
The fairy-tale continues and Gauff's extended Wimbledon family is enjoying every second of this thrill ride.
"The crowd awas amazing," Gauff said. "Even when I was down match point they were still cheering me on. I'm just thankful they believed in me."