(July 1, 2024) No. 2 Coco Gauff waltzed into the second round of Wimbledon with a 6-1, 6-2 win over friend and countrywoman Caroline Dolehide. Just last year Gauff lost to Sofia Kenin in the first round of the All-England Club.
“Oh, man, I wish a year ago, me after that match could see me now,” Gauff told media last week. “That was a tough moment for me. I think the first two, three weeks after that, I was really in a dark place.”
“I’m really happy that I was able to get through today,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “I’m a little bit emotional but it’s been a long year.”
Top ten players No. 7 Jasmine Paolini of Italy and No 9 Maria Sakkari of Greece advance to the second round of Wimbledon. Paolini beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-3, while Sakkari won 6-3, 6-1 victory over American qualifier McCartney Kessler. For Paolini, it was her first match win at Wimbledon of her career.
In the women’s upset of the day, No. 8 seed Qinwen Zheng was ousted by No.123 Lulu Sun won a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over No.8 seed.
Naomi Osaka won her first match at Wimbledon in six years. She posted a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win over Diane Parry in the first round at the All England Club by taking the last two games from 4-all in the third set. “It’s funny, because Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy.” Osaka’s daughter will turn one on Tuesday. “I’m just really excited to be here,” said the woman from Japan.
More to follow….
