Monday, July 5th, 2021
Germans thrilled at Wimbledon
Even the child prodigy does not stop Kerber
Angelique Kerber thrilled at Wimbledon: The best German tennis player made it to the quarter-finals of the world’s most important tennis tournament with an extremely strong performance and a smooth victory over 17-year-old Cori Gauff.
Angelique Kerber is after a surprisingly smooth win in the generation duel over US teenager Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, where she won the title three years ago. The 33-year-old from Kiel won the round of 16 in London 6: 4, 6: 4 and made it into the top eight players in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since triumphing at the lawn classic in 2018. “I enjoy my time here, it is so fun to play in front of you,” Kerber said to the fans on Center Court after the game and emphasized: “This is such a magical place for me.” The former number one in the world used the first match ball against Gauff after 1:16 hours. The 17-year-old last reached the quarter-finals at the French Open, and since she made it to the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2019, she has been celebrated as the “child prodigy” of tennis.
Kerber will meet this year’s Australian Open semi-finalist Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals this Tuesday, and she has won the two previous comparisons against the 24-year-old. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I’m not looking too far ahead and staying in the moment,” she said of her chances in the tournament. Her defeated opponent also praised her: “Coco is such a talented player. I’m sure she will play here often and maybe one day she’ll win the title.”
In the afternoon, both of them had great difficulties getting their service games through on Center Court. On the other hand, rallies that delighted the audience, which had not yet been fully admitted, took place from the start. Kerber was immediately in the match in the first duel, the last remaining active Wimbledon winner in the field was the first player to keep her service to 4: 2. With a left-handed forehand against the running direction, Kerber made the win of the first set perfect.
An immediate break in the second set was avoided by Gauff, who was fully offensive and, two years ago, as a 15-year-old, who sensationally reached the round of 16 after qualifying. But in the next attempt Kerber managed to gain the advantage again. That the good results of the past days and weeks of the world rankings 28, who were looking for their shape in the first half year I could feel that I had given significantly more self-confidence. Kerber believed in her chance against the five places better placed Gauff, who has the longtime number one Serena Williams as a role model. Kerber survived a critical situation with two breakballs against himself before the 5: 3 with strong nerves and mistakes by Gauff. Kerber brought the unexpected success to the finish with an ace.
.