By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday May 11, 2024
Coco Gauff overcame 15 double faults to defeat Jaqueline Cristian in Rome on Saturday.
Photo Source: Mark Peterson/ Corleve
Coco Gauff continues to be plagued by double-faults on the clay this spring. Never mind the panic though – the American overcame her self-made obstacle and outlasted Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, 6-1, 0-6, 6-3, in a weird scramble of a match on Saturday night at Rome’s Foro Italico to reach the round of 16.
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Gauff has tossed in 38 double faults in her last three matches, but continues to scratch and claw warrior style as she seeks to hit her stride before Roland-Garros.
On Saturday she overcame a torrid streak from 68th-ranked Cristian, who won seven consecutive games from the start of the second set, to improve to 10-4 lifetime at Rome, and 23-7 on the season.
Gauff managed to win 17 of the 27 second-serve points that did not feature a double-fault, and saved seven of ten break points, including the only one she faced in the decider, to win in two hours and four minutes, and deny Cristian (0-5) her first Top 10 win.
It wasn’t pretty, but for the third-ranked Gauff and her coach Brad Gilbert, who authored the tennis bible “Winning Ugly,” it’s another victory and a chance to right the ship next round.
Gauff will face Spain’s Paula Badosa, who defeated Diana Shnaider 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, for a spot in the quarterfinals on Monday.
The American is joined by compatriot Madison Keys in the round of 16. The No.18 seed topped 12th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.