ONE extraordinary 15-year-old has written her name all over the ladies’ singles at this year’s Wimbledon. But another 15 women will wake up this morning with every bit as much hope of landing the title.
So many column inches have been devoted to the coming of age of young Coco Gauff that the rest of the field might feel it is their turn for a bit of attention. And there is certainly no shortage of other absorbing second week storylines.
Let’s start with the home hopeful, and the yearning for a first British female winner of this trophy since Virginia Wade in the Queen’s silver jubilee year of 1977. Jo Konta kept those fires burning when she fought back from a set down to strongarm Sloane Stephens, a Grand Slam winner, out of this competition.
Three times a major semi-finalist, no-one can claim that Konta doesn’t have the game to prevail in the Grand Slams, even if question marks persist over her temperament. “I’m really pleased that I’ve been able to make it to the second week in two successive Grand Slams,” said Konta. “I’ve never been able to do that before. Obviously, you know, the more opportunities I get to be in the latter stages of Grand Slams, the more experience I gain.”
Were today’s opponent Petra Kvitova to go all the way to lift the title on Saturday, it would be a fairytale ending to rival a Gauff victory. Twice a winner of this title, Kvitova has made a remarkable job of rebuilding her career at the top level after being victim of a knife attack in her home in late 2016. A finalist in Australia earlier in the year, she will carry plenty of support even against Konta and it would be unwise to count her out, even if she has been struggling with an arm injury.
How about world No.1 Ash Barty of Australia, who is chasing her first Wimbledon title and the rarity of a player of any sex being able to follow up a Roland Garros win with success at SW19? Taking on Alison Riske today for the third time in this grass court season, Barty famously took a break from the sport to play cricket for 18 months.
“I’m still in contact with those girls now,” said Barty. “It’s given me a really nice perspective about how other athletes go about their business, how they train, prepare. But now I’ve come back to tennis – my sport.”
While dangerous top-10 players such as Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova have cruised into the last 16, Serena Williams is always a story ad her presence at this stage is particularly hard to ignore. Victory in the ladies’ singles here wouldn’t jut equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam title, it would be her first tournament victory as a mum. After her fourth-round tie against Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain she will have a quick turnaround before continuing her partnership with Andy Murray in the mixed doubles.
Only recently returned from a knee problem, she downplayed any notion that doubling up in the two events could compromise her fitness. “I’ll be fine,” she said. “I play doubles a lot, especially in Grand Slams. I’m definitely used to all the matches.”
But today’s main story – again – will undeniably be Gauff. No.7 seed Simona Halep, another Grand Slam winner still standing in this field, looked a player in form as she crushed Victoria Azarenka in the third round. She can be expected to bring a different level of intensity to anything Gauff has seen thus far.
The fifth youngest player to reach this far, it may be the end of the road for Gauff. But it seems wise advice not to write this youngster off. “I don’t see a reason why younger women players should run into physical issues or not win tournaments young,” said Roger Federer of the teenager who he has spent time mentoring. “She seems developed and I think it possible. I was terrible at 15. I couldn’t be on a court for longer than an hour and a half.”
“I’m just going to approach her like every other match I have been approaching,” says Gauff. “My routine has been working pretty well. Was I watching on the telly last year? No, I was actually playing juniors last year and I lost in the quarters. So this is definitely a big step from that.”
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