Gauff bemoans errors after shock first-round defeat to Kenin

Jul 03, 2023 at 9:58 PM

oco Gauff admitted she was “very frustrated” with herself as she was overwhelmed by Sofia Kenin to fall to a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne per week in the past however couldn’t deliver that type to SW19, Kenin battling to a 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory on Court 1 for what was the largest upset on the opening day of the event.

As first-round assignments go, this was not a very beneficiant one for Gauff. Kenin got here by means of qualifying and is ranked 128th on this planet, however it’s simply three years for the reason that American gained the Australian Open and reached the ultimate at Roland Garros just a few months later.

Kenin has although by no means made it past the second spherical at Wimbledon, one thing Gauff ticked off as a 15-year-old in 2019, and this was her first main-draw Grand Slam win for 2 years.

Gauff was left to replicate on a risky show, one which included 33 winners however the identical variety of unforced errors, as she crashed out of Wimbledon on the first-round stage for the primary time.

“I think I didn’t really put too much pressure on her,” Gauff stated.

“I felt like she could make a ball on the court, didn’t have to be as good, and I wouldn’t do much with it. That’s what happened. If I played too passive, she has a game where she can hit aggressive shots, especially off the backhand side.”