Second seed Coco Gauff (20) ruthlessly crushed the fairytale journey of British qualifier Sonay Kartal (298) at Wimbledon on Friday. A dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory booked Gauff’s place in the fourth round, leaving a heartbroken Kartal and a silenced Centre Court in her wake.
The opening set proved a test for Gauff. Kartal, a player ranked outside the top 300 just days ago, displayed a fearless brand of tennis, frustrating the American with her aggressive style. “She was playing a high level, especially in the first set,” Gauff admitted after the match.
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However, Gauff’s experience and superior firepower ultimately prevailed. Once she secured the first set, the momentum shifted decisively. Kartal, overwhelmed by the occasion, faded in the second set, failing to register a single game.
This victory extends Gauff’s impressive record at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round for the third time. However, the quarter-final barrier remains unbroken. Next up is another American, 19-year-old Emma Navarro, who defeated Diana Shnaider on the same day.
Kartal, one of the surprise packages of the tournament, exits with her head held high. Despite the defeat, it’s a week she’ll never forget. From the electrifying support of the Centre Court crowd to her upcoming celebratory tattoo, the memories of this Wimbledon adventure will remain etched permanently.
“It was unbelievable,” a tearful Kartal said, reflecting on the crowd’s unwavering support. “That feeling of them in my ear when I was walking off, that moment is going to stick around a long time for me.”
While Kartal’s dream run ends, Gauff’s quest for a maiden Wimbledon title continues. Can she overcome her American compatriot and finally break through to the last eight? The battle for a place in the quarterfinals promises to be another i
