Gauff ends history bid in tears

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2020 10:42:35 +0000

GAUFF

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Coco Gauff’s bid for history at the Australian Open ended in tears in the Last 16 yesterday as the 15-year-old crashed out in three sets to fellow American Sofia Kenin.

The 14th seed Kenin recovered from a set down to win convincingly 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-0.

She plays China’s 27th seed Wang Qiang – who beat Serena Williams in the last round – or Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

“I just did the best I can. I just tried to take it like any other match,’’ said Kenin. ‘‘I know she’s playing well, I just tried to play my game and fight for every point and just not focus on anything else.’’

Gauff, the youngest player in the draw, departed the court in tears.

But she has been one of the stories of the Australian Open, beating Venus Williams in the first round and then stunning reigning champion Naomi Osaka in Round 3.

The supremely talented teenager, who turns 16 in March, was attempting to become the youngest player to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era, which began in 1968.

The current record-holder is Martina Hingis, who triumphed at the 1997 Australian Open aged 16 years and 105 days.

But Gauff was under the cosh immediately against Kenin, the 21-year-old breaking in the first game at Melbourne Arena and comfortably holding for a swift 2-0 lead.

There was no mistaking who the crowd wanted to win – each point for Gauff greeted with cheers and screams and there was only polite applause for Moscow-born Kenin.

The 67th-ranked Gauff recovered to gain parity for 4-4 and they went to the tie-
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