Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Day 5

Coco Gauff wrapped her place in the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday, sending over a concluding ace to finish off British qualifier Sonay Kartal 6-4, 6-0.

The American second seed said she came to the court expecting to be the villain against a Brit, but ended up pleased with her reception on Centre Court under the roof on a day plagued by rain.

“This was my first time playing a British player here, so I was a little nervous going in,” Gauff said..

“She had nothing to lose and I had a lot of pressure. I tried to stay relaxed and the crowd was pretty nice to me.”

The reigning US Open champion has progressed through three matches with the loss of just 10 games.

She will bid for the quarter-finals in the next round, taking on compatriot Emma Navarro.

Navarro, billed by British tabloids as the world’s richest player (USD 3 billion) due to her father’s hedge fund management company, advanced over Diana Schnaider 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Victory was quick revenge for Navarro, who lost a German grass semi-final to Schnaider last month.

“Today I served better in bigger moments, that definitely helped me out,” the winner said.

“She had my number the past few weeks, so knew what I had to do

today. 

“It was just a matter of can I execute or not, and I was able to for a good bit of the match.”

Roland Garros finalist Jasmine Paolini earned her third spot in a Grand Slam second week for 2024 with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 rout of Bianca Andreescu.

The seventh-seeded Italian winner kept the Canadian winless over a Top 10 opponent on grass.

Paolini took little notice of her opponent’s 2019 US Open title, instead concentrating on Andreescu’s weak Wimbledon pedigree, where she has never passed the third round in four starts.

Andreescu showed none of the form which last month took her to a grass final in the Netherlands, going out 91 minutes with more than 20 unforced errors.

Paolini has not reached the fourth round this season in Melbourne, Paris and SW19.

She completed victory on her first match point, sending a winner into the empty court to repeat her win over Andreescu in Paris last month.

“I’m enjoying it a lot, it’s nice to play here in front of so many people,” the winner said after her victory on Court No. 1.

“I played a pretty good match, I did a good job. I tried to play aggressive and control the points with my serve and return.” 

Emma Raducanu continued her summer’s fast-track progress on grass, knocking out ninth seeded Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 to tie her career best here of the fourth round.

The No. 135 who has had to reconstruct her career after injury, followed up on her Eastbourne quarter-final and Nottingham semis on grass.

She defeated Sakkari in the 2021 US Open semi-final en route to her trophy from a qualifying start.

Sakkari finally lost as she was broken after saving two match points in the final game, with the Greek sending a return wide after 91 minutes.

“Today was really up there with some of the most fun I’ve had on a court,” Raducanu said after beating her second Top 10 player in as many weeks.

“I enjoyed every moment. I’m proud of how I was so focused and determined on every single point. 

“She has amazing weapons and I had to battle and fight hard.  I didn’t let the scoreline affect me.”

American Madison Keys, seeded 12th. defeated Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-4, hitting 27 winners on her way to the quick win.

The pair got on and off outside Court 17 before the afternoon bad weather kicked in.

With roofs over showcourts Centre and No. 1 allowing play, Keys said tennis scheduling can often seem unfair.

“There’s more and more tournaments that have a roof. If you are lucky enough to get scheduled on that court, you do.

“It’s also unlucky if you (are scheduled) first (of the day) and I played last night and my opponent played (early).

“They have more time to recover. I just think it’s not a fair sport, unfortunately.”

Spain’s Paula Badosa ended the run of last week’s Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina, defeating the 14th seed 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.

Victory ended a seven-match win streak for the seed and kept Kasatkina from reaching the second week for the first time since 2018.

“Today was a battle out, I was expecting that. She’s a great player and has been playing very well, winning a lot of matches on grass.

“It was a very tactical match, and I’m really proud that I went through it. I’m happy I won.”

A year ago Badosa lost in the second round here and then missed the rest of the season with a back injury.

Main photo:-Coco Gauff celebrates third round victory – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd