Angelique Kerber sent a clear message to the rest of the women’s draw by dismantling American teen sensation Coco Gauff in straight sets, to book her place in the Wimbledon quarter-final.
Gauff had not dropped a set until Monday, and had been expected to challenge the 2018 champion. But Kerber grew into the match and was just a cut above in the 6-4, 6-4 victory.
It takes Kerber’s winning streak on grass to nine matches, and she looks back to the level which helped her win three majors between 2016 and 2018.
As two of the most high-profile names left in the women’s draw, there was much hype ahead of the pair’s first-ever meeting. But it was not the high quality tussle many had expected at the beginning.
The match began shakily on a windy Centre Court, with five consecutive breaks of serve before Kerber held to go 4-2 up after 20 minutes. From then on she never lost her lead, or her focus.
Gauff won only 14 per cent of points on her second serve in the opening set, and Kerber’s 100 per cent conversion rate of break points helped her clinch the lead 6-4. The competition improved from then on, but things remained swinging to the German’s advantage in the crucial moments.
She sent Gauff from pillar to post time and again with her tight-angled hitting from the baseline, and the teenager buckled under the pressure at times. She was broken with her first double fault of the match early in the second set and she never fully recovered.
Though the American’s serve and backhand in particular were both weapons she could rely on to get out of trouble, she could not rattle Kerber’s resolve. Down 4-3 in the second set, Gauff had two break points on Kerber’s serve, but the former champion showed her class, hitting her first ace of the match and forcing errors from Gauff.
The win puts Kerber in the last-eight of a Grand Slam for the first time since she won the title here three years ago. She faces the 19th seed Karolina Muchova tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals.
04:13 PM
Kerber into fifth quarter-final at Wimbledon
The 25th seed is growing in confidence with every match. Just an hour and 16 minutes to down Gauff this afternoon.
Her flash interview:
“Coco is such a great player, she has such a great future in front of her. I’m sure she’ll have a great career. She’ll play here many times, maybe one year she’ll get the title.
“I’m not looking far ahead. I’m staying in the moment.”
The 2018 champion will take on 19th seed Karolina Muchova tomorrow.
04:10 PM
Gauff* 4-6, 4-6 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Boom. Kerber repeats her forehand winner on the chase shot as she surges to three match points. She only needs one with a powerful ace down the line. It’s the first service love-hold of the match. GAME, SET AND MATCH: KERBER BEATS GAUFF 6-4, 6-4 TO REACH QUARTER-FINALS
04:07 PM
Gauff 4-6, 4-5 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Blistering forehand winner on the run from Kerber puts some heat on Coco at 15-all. But she pulls consecutive first serves out of the bag to bring up two game points. And then gets over the line to make Kerber serve for it.
04:04 PM
Gauff* 4-6, 3-5 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Loose service game now from Kerber, Coco starting to turn the screw, jumping on shorter balls to move to two break points. Kerber saves the first with only her second ace of the match. But then Coco inexplicably opts for a drop shot and gets her timing all wrong, allows Kerber back to deuce. She needs to forgot that shot and fast. Unfortunately, she slaps a regulation forehand into the tape during the next point and the groans ring round Centre. A third straight point for Kerber. She’s now a game from the quarters.
04:00 PM
Gauff* 4-6, 3-4 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Ouch. Coco’s serve out wide is given short shrift as she whips a backhand cross-court winner that draws ‘oohs’ from the crowd. But it’s the only point Kerber manages to extract from Coco’s serve. A solid hold from the teenager.
03:56 PM
Gauff 4-6, 2-4 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Stuttering service game now from Kerber, allowing Coco back in at 30-all. She’s back on the front-foot during next rally, sending the American one way, then the other before pulling out the killer groundstroke. Important hold.
Meanwhile, Madison Keys’ departure means there’s extra weight on Coco’s shoulders now.
03:52 PM
Gauff* 4-6, 2-3 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Kerber at her full squatting best as she dips low to send a backhand winner flashing past Coco. But now it’s Kerber’s turn to start the head shaking, annoyed at opting for a sliced reply and watching it dip into the net.
Centre Court crank up the volume willing Coco on, and it pays off, the 20th seed pushing Kerber behind the baseline and drawing the error for game point at 40-30.
Kerber wrongfoots Coco and has the American sliding to the turf again – this time at the opposite end for deuce. Boom. Coco reacts with a powerful ace and lets out an almight ‘C’Mon’, she follows it up with another strong first serve. Great reaction.
03:47 PM
Gauff 4-6, 1-3 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Crafty play from Coco as she pushes Kerber deep to the corner and then disguises a perfect drop shot which even Usain Bolt could not chase down. Chance now for the American at 15-30 and the crowd are willing her on. Super play from Kerber now, as the German this time chases down a short ball and mobs up at the net with an over-head. Coco starts muttering to herself after missing a forehand. And she rolls her head back in annoyance after striking long during the next point. Mental battle is being won by Kerber – as well as the match.
03:42 PM
Gauff 4-6, 1-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Coco dusts herself down after a slight slip on the near-side baseline but a few errors are creeping into her game and Kerber has another chance at a break at 30-40.
The pressure tells, Coco sends down a double. KERBER BREAKS.
03:39 PM
Gauff* 4-6, 1-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Superb athleticism from Kerber, chasing down a short return for 30-0. But she’s berating herself moments later, tapping the racket on her leg after overshooting a forehand as Coco draws level.
Coco shows she can be quick out of the blocks too, chasing down a short ball to bring up break point. The crowd are giddy again. Their cheers soon change to groans as she dumps a reply into the middle. Missed opportunity for Coco as a couple of first serves come to Kerber’s rescue.
03:34 PM
Gauff 4-6, 1-0 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Great reaction from Coco as she sends Kerber the wrong way on the baseline for game point at 40-30. Good response after dropping the first set of the Championships too. Kerber makes a fantastic service return down the line to hang around at deuce and then gets a stroke of luck when a forehand clips the net and drops dead, with Coco all at sea. The 25th seed has battling hard to turn the game around now for break point.
Super save from Coco in the next rally, the point of the match as she moves Kerber side-to-side, pinning her back and drawing the error. Back to deuce and Coco turns the game back in her favour, the crowd rallying behind her now too. She punches a volley return winner. Important hold.
03:26 PM
Gauff* 4-6 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Kerber edges to 30-15 when Coco gets caught out by a sliced return. The German gives her rival the run around on the next point to draw the error and bring up two set points.
Coco pulls out a top-drawer backhand winner to save the first. But Kerber outlasts the American during the next rally at the baseline, as she takes the opening set. KERBER WINS FIRST SET.
03:21 PM
Gauff 4-5 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Gauff, from a position of command at 30-0 allows Kerber to draw level, but pulls out a crucial winner at the net on the volley after cutting short the point. Steps into a short return on the next point to whip a backhand cross court. She’ll make Kerber serve for the set.
03:18 PM
Gauff* 3-5 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Better movement from both players now, engaging in longer rallies and coping with the blustery wind. A comfortable hold for Kerber to 15.
03:14 PM
Gauff 3-4 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Persistence pays off for Coco at the net as she punches everything Kerber has to throw at her, but then throws in one final volley with added bite en route to her own game points at 40-15.
An ace gets her first service hold on the board.
03:12 PM
Gauff* 2-4 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Kerber rolls her shoulders, trying to loosen the tension after drilling a forehand into the corner. She targets the same patch of grass during the next point and it pays off for 30-15. Coco counters, pinning Kerber behind the baseline, moving forward and executing a brutal volley home. But Kerber sticks to her same tactic, focusing on Coco’s backhand and it takes her to game point. Finally, she has the first hold of the match. KERBER HOLDS.
03:08 PM
Gauff 2-3 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Better from Coco now as she moves 30-15 courtesy of a punched volley into the corner. But inconsistency creeps in again, not helped by the swirling wind forcing the error. Brilliant point from Kerber to set up another break point, lobbing her rival which lands perfectly on the dusty baseline.
And it’s a fifth-straight break of serve when Coco tamely returns into the net. KERBER BREAKS.
03:05 PM
Gauff* 2-2 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Gauff pulling out the groundstroke winners now, this time on her forehand wing, putting pressure instantly back on Kerber’s serve.
Break points racking up at the start of the set. Two more for Coco. She overshoots at the first attempt. But then looks on as Kerber drags a groundstroke into the tramlines. GAUFF BREAKS.
03:01 PM
Gauff 1-2 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
Couple of swings and misses for Coco now as the flight of return catches her cold on the baseline for 15-30.
Gauff still struggling to find any rhythm on her serve, two break points for Kerber now. Superb play from the German to make a second break in the longest rally of the match, she takes the game with a backhand winner. KERBER BREAKS.
02:58 PM
Gauff* 1-1 Kerber (*denotes next server)
Kerber now serving at the same end that gave Coco some grief and it’s a similar story for the German as she slips 0-30 down. The 2018 champ throws in a double fault to hand Coco two break points, and it’s a stuttering start for both women.
Coco draws level when Kerber overshoots a forehand. GAUFF BREAKS.
02:56 PM
Gauff 0-1 Kerber* (*denotes next server)
The breeze is kicking up some loose soil and dust on the baseline where Gauff is serving. It affects Coco’s service rhythm, and she sends down a first double for 30-all and then overshoots a forehand to hand a first break point.
Another first serve goes begging, and she’s at full reach to make a slice, but sends it long again. KERBER BREAKS.
02:52 PM
Breezy conditions on Centre
Players just going through the warms up on Centre Court where there’s a stiff breeze blowing which could cause issues for both players.
02:35 PM
Update on today’s results
Earlier today in the women’s draw, No 1 seed Ash Barty booked her place in the last eight after defeating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Barty had never made it past this stage before, but she turned that around with a 7-5, 6-3 win on Court One.
The Australian will play the winner of Emma Raducanu and Ajla Tomljanovic’s match later this evening.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka is also through, after a battling three-set win over Elena Rybakina.
The 23-year-old will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur tomorrow. Jabeur became the first woman into the quarters after a three-set win over 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek.
12:04 PM
Teenage dreams on Manic Monday
Afternoon all. While the focus over the last few days has rightly been on British tennis’ next potential big thing in 18-year-old Emma Raducanu, another teenager continues to set Wimbledon alight in only her second appearance.
Two years ago Coco Gauff announced herself to the tennis world on the grass-courts in south west London, and today she has a chance to reach back-to-back grand slam quarter-finals – following her run at the French Open last month – when she takes on former Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber in the last 16.
Last time at SW19, Gauff was a wildcard, this time she returns as the 20th seed and has been in impressive form during her run to the second week following three straight-set victories.
Today she comes up against an experienced opponent, who is nearly double her age in 33-year-old and 2018 champion Kerber.
The pair have never faced each other, but American Gauff isn’t fazed by her more seasoned rival.
“I’m just so early in my career that pretty much everyone I play is a first-timer,” she said.
“You don’t know how they’re going to play you. How they play someone else may be different on how they play you. You just kind of have to feel it out in the match.”
Kerber is the only former champion left in the draw and believes her experience should count for something in their first-ever duel.
The German made it through a tough week, with a marathon second-round match against Sara Sorribes Tormo which went on for more than three hours.
“I think it will be really an interesting match. I mean, I never played against her before, she’s a newcomer.
“She played already so many good matches. She beat top players. She’s really dangerous, especially on a grass court.
“I see the fire in her, as well. She’s really putting all the effort she has in every single match. So I know that it will be a tough match.
“But of course, one point may be the experience is good, but on the other side I think it’s more like it’s a new match, I know that I have to play one of my best tennis matches against her.
“This is the goal, to go out there and try to focus more on me. I mean, she’s, I don’t know how many years younger than me, but still I think it will be a good match.”