In only 52 minutes, 19-year-old Coco Gauff Qualified for the Auckland Classic semi-final clinching a 6-1 6-1 victory in the quarter-finals. Coco Gauff, the US Open champion, easily defeated Varvara Gracheva, advancing to the Auckland Classic semi-finals in preparation for the Australian Open. Coco Gauff Qualifies for the Auckland Classic semi-final with a 6-1 6-1 victory in the quarter-finals, setting up a last-four clash against compatriot Emma Navarro.
- Gauff, aged 19, swiftly secured a 6-1 6-1 win in the quarter-final.
- The victory took a mere 52 minutes to complete.
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 14th.
Harriet Dart, aged 27, has reached the pinnacle of her career, securing a spot in the final at the Canberra International. After a hard-fought win against Katie Volynets in the WTA 125 series tournament. This competition serves as a stepping stone just below the main WTA Tour. As Britain’s third-ranked player, Dart is set to face Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz in the final. Before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open qualifying rounds starting on Monday. A victory in this final could potentially propel Dart back into the top 100 rankings, a significant achievement in her career.
Who is Coco Gauff?
Cori “Coco” Gauff, a rising African American tennis professional, gained attention for her remarkable achievements in the sport. Born on March 13, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia, she began playing tennis at six years old. Despite initial doubts about her skills, she won the “Little Mo” nationals at eight and met her idol, Serena Williams. Her family later moved to Orlando, Florida, to advance her training at tennis academies, including the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France under Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams’ coach.
Gauff’s career accelerated rapidly; at ten, she became the youngest USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under champion. She broke records as the youngest finalist in the US Open history at 13. Her Junior Grand Slam victories, including the French Open, propelled her to the top ranking in the junior circuit. At 14, she made her professional debut and gained sponsorships from New Balance and Barilla.
Her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2019 marked history; she was the youngest female to qualify for the main draw and defeated Venus Williams. She later triumphed over Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open in 2020. Balancing her tennis career, Gauff continued high school through online classes amidst the pause in the tennis season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her remarkable achievements and tenacity on the court have solidified her position as a promising talent in the tennis world. Currently, she is ranked third in WTA.
Coco Gauff’s Defense of her Auckland Classic Title
Meanwhile, despite never advancing beyond the fourth round at the Australian Open, Coco Gauff is in perfect form and wants to defend her Auckland Classic title. Gauff expressed satisfaction with her improved serving during the tournament, an area she focused on during her off-season training.
Elsewhere, in the Brisbane International, world number four Elena Rybakina and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka have both secured spots in the semi-finals.
In the upcoming match, Kazakhstan’s Rybakina is set to face Linda Noskova from the Czech Republic. It is after Anastasia Potapova retired due to a stomach issue at the close of the first set.
Meanwhile, Belarusian player Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion in 2012 and 2013, secured a hard-fought victory. She spends two hours and 30 minutes defeating third-seeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko with a scoreline of 6-3 3-6 7-5.