LONDON — Coco Gauff likes the No. 1 Court at Wimbledon.
It’s where she beat Venus Williams back in 2019 when Gauff made her Wimbledon debut at age 15.
On Wednesday, Gauff beat qualifier Anca Todoni 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round at the All England Club.
“This is the court where I first started here at Wimbledon. Court 1 is always a special place for me to play on,” the 20-year-old Gauff said in her on-court interview.
The victory also allows Gauff, the No. 2 seed, to move another step away from last year’s first-round exit.
“Overall, I just learned about life a lot,” the U.S. Open champion said when asked about putting that three-set loss to Sofia Kenin behind her.
“I just realized that, yes, what I do I’m very passionate about, but it’s not ever that serious and sometimes the world can make you feel like there’s so much pressure, there’s so much expectation,” she said. “At the end of the (day), it’s a game. It’s sport.”
The 19-year-old Todoni is from Romania and was making her Grand Slam debut.
“I do think I could have played cleaner at some moments,” Gauff said.
Five years ago, Gauff beat Williams — a five-time Wimbledon champion — 6-4, 6-4 in the first round and eventually reached the last 16, all on her Grand Slam debut.
15-year-old tennis sensation Coco Gauff continues to impress at Wimbledon, advancing to the third round of the prestigious tournament. Gauff, who burst onto the scene last year with a stunning run to the fourth round at Wimbledon, has once again shown her talent and composure on the grass courts of the All England Club.
In a post-match interview, Gauff shared that she is not feeling any pressure despite the high expectations placed on her young shoulders. “I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and play my best tennis,” she said. “I know there are a lot of people watching and expecting great things from me, but I’m just focused on playing my game and having fun out there.”
Gauff’s maturity and poise on and off the court have been widely praised by fans and experts alike. Despite her age, she has shown a level of composure and mental strength that belies her years. This has been evident in her performances at Wimbledon, where she has defeated some tough opponents with relative ease.
Many believe that Gauff has the potential to be a future star of women’s tennis, and her success at Wimbledon only reinforces that belief. With her powerful serve, aggressive baseline game, and fearless attitude, she has all the tools to succeed at the highest level of the sport.
As she prepares for her third-round match at Wimbledon, Gauff remains focused and determined to continue her impressive run. With her talent, work ethic, and positive attitude, there is no doubt that she has a bright future ahead of her in the world of tennis. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how far she can go in this year’s tournament and beyond.