There were mixed fortunes for two top 10 seeds in the women’s draw at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Coco Gauff kept her title chances alive with a 129-minute comeback win over Argentina’s Solan Sierra, whom she ousted 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in a roller-coaster battle. The seventh seed was on the verge of suffering a shock defeat after falling behind 3-5 in the third set before battling back. Gauff was also down 2-4 in the tiebreaker but turned her fortunes around.
As to how she managed to avoid defeat, the 22-year-old kept remembering a phrase her coach tells her.
“My coach always tells me ‘remember who you are’ and I think I have a high break percentage most times so when she served for the match I just reminded myself I’m a great returner as well,” she said.
“And I knew when I served, I think I saw my stats after the first or second set, I was like 92% first serves won, so I was just trying to be aggressive with my first serve and my second serves were good too.
“I was relaxed even though I was nervous most points in the match, I was just trying to be positive and I think that showed.”
Elaborating further about the quote in her press conference, Gauff spoke openly about suffering with imposture syndrome. The mental feeling that a person isn’t good enough despite their achievements. The tennis star had previously spoken about the issue earlier this year.
“Sometimes I feel like I have a bit of impostor syndrome. Maybe having my success, but sometimes forgetting about it, or maybe thinking I almost don’t deserve it a little bit.” She explains.
“I don’t know, just reminding myself of the career that I’ve had so far at 22 is definitely up there with a lot of people. Obviously I have so much ambition to do even more.
“I think I just have to remind myself that, yes, the girl I’m playing is tough. Regardless of who it is, it’s tough. But I also have to remember that they’re probably thinking the same thing about me.”
Andreeva exits
There was heartbreak for fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, who battled on court for two hours and 45 minutes, saving seven match points, before losing 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova. The recently crowned French Open champion was visibly upset with her loss, throwing her racket immediately after the match ended towards her seat.
Krejcikova, who has struggled with injury and withdrew from a final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch last month due to respiratory illness, has now beaten five top 10 players at Grand Slam events, with three of those wins being at Wimbledon.
“I have been through a lot with injuries and my personal life. The last couple of months were really hard to get through with the emotions of what has happened,” she said. “But, I put in lots of work and dedication every single day. I try to go day by day.”
Andreeva is the second top 10 seed to exit the women’s draw after Elina Svitolina.
