Coco Gauff’s struggles on grass have continued as the American became the latest women’s heavyweight to crash out in the last-16 at Wimbledon. Gauff’s 6-4, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro came after another American Madison Keys left Court One in tears after being forced to retire with injury while serving at 5-5 in the deciding set against Jasmine Paolini.
Gauff has never made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon and the second seed was once again unable to overcome that hurdle in an all-American showdown with Navarro. The loss for reigning US Open champion Gauff means only two of the top-10 in the women’s draw – fourth seed Elena Rybakina and seventh seed Paolini – still remain in the singles draw.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek suffered a shock loss over the weekend, third seed Aryna Sabalenka withdrew before playing a match and sixth seed and defending champion Marketa Vondrousova was defeated in the first round. And Navarro kept the upsets coming at the All England Club after blowing Gauff away in a brutal straight sets demolition.
I don’t have a ton of words,” 19th-seed Navarro said after the match. “I played really aggressively. Coco’s obviously an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her and what she’s done at such a young age is really amazing. I knew she wasn’t going to make it easy on me… But I wanted to play aggressively and push back against her game and I think I was able to do that.”
Wimbledon fans gutted over Madison Keys injury drama
Fellow American Keys was reduced to tears in her fourth round match against Paolini, where she played brilliantly to go up 5-2 in the deciding set of an absorbing contest before being cruelly struck down by a hamstring injury. Keys was forced off court for a lengthy delay to receive medical treatment and she bravely battled on after returning with a heavily strapped leg.
But the injury ultimately proved too much for the American, who was forced to call it quits while serving to try and take a 6-5 lead in the decider. In devastating scenes that left supporters shattered for the American, Keys shook hands with Paolini before leaving the court in tears as her Wimbledon campaign came to an end.
I’m very sorry for her,” seventh seed Italian Paolini said after booking her quarter-final date with Navarro. “It’s sad after a really good match. Really tough, lots of up and downs. I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that.”
Donna Vekic and Kiwi qualifier Lulu Sun into quarter-finals
In other women’s fourth round action, Croatian Donna Vekic beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-2 1-6 6-4 in a lengthy, rain interrupted match on Court Two. “It’s been such a long day. The stress has been building up since I warmed up. So it was just also a big relief to finally get it done,” Vekic said after booking her spot in the last-eight.
“To win and make quarters at Wimbledon, I feel like I’m living my dream. So I’m just really happy.” Vekic while now face New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun in the quarter-finals after the Kiwi ended local hope Emma Raducanu’s dream run with a 6-2 5-7 6-2 victory on Centre Court.
