TEENAGE SENSATION COCO Gauff’s Wimbledon fairytale came to an end on Monday afternoon, as she lost to Romania’s former world number one Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3 in the last 16.
The 15-year-old American saved three match points, but was simply out-played by her more experienced opponent on Court One.
Halep, who is into the quarter-finals for the third time, plays Zhang Shuai for a place in the last four on Tuesday.
Gauff’s cause was not helped by appearing to have suffered an abdomen strain during the second set which entailed the trainer and doctor to attend to her whilst her glum-looking parents — father Corey who coached her initially and mum Candi — looked on from the players’ box.
Whilst on Friday Gauff had fought back against Polona Hercog from a set down and saved two match points, 2018 French Open champion Halep is used to this level and never gave her opponent a glimmer of a hope as she closed out the match after breaking the American to lead 4-2.
“I’m really happy that I can play again in the quarter-finals,” said Halep, who was also in the last eight in 2016 and 2017.
“I enjoyed a lot the crowd, the energy today, I felt it really well.
“I’m happy that I could play my best tennis I’m not comparing myself with last year. Last year was the best yet,” added the 27-year-old.
However, Gauff, who was playing her seventh match in a fortnight having come through qualifying, takes her leave having also improved her ranking markedly from 313 and announced herself as a future Grand Slam contender.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams breezed into the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro.
Previous form offered little indication that Williams’ pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title would be knocked off course by Suarez Navarro, who had failed to win a set in their six previous meetings.
This proved a similarly forlorn assignment for the 30th seed, despite some good moments in the middle of each set as errors flowed from her esteemed opponent’s racquet more frequently than might have been expected.
Williams will face Alison Riske in the quarter-finals after her compatriot downed world number one Ashleigh Barty via a gruelling 96-minute encounter on Court Two.
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Well he pretty much got hit by a car in the Wales game and was 100% in minutes !! He could get over anything in 48 hours !!
And if I remember correctly, the car is a write-off.
Hopefully if won’t spread through the camp.
I can’t believe they’re out camping in this weather! Mad stuff!
In BOD we trust
Too much partying with Seanie Fitz Bod???
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/seanie-fitzpatrick-anglo-irish-went-2671143
http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/sean-fitzpatrick-brian-odriscoll-testimonial-dinner_3932733
I’m sure Bod will recover- he’s seen worse. Great to see Donnacha back in camp and driving up the standards. Sounds like Schmidt has everyone playing for the collective.
Can’t remember Ireland ever being able to lose a match and have such an outstanding points difference that the championship was still on.
This, and Cole’s absence makes me quitely confident.
Roll on that flight on friday. Twickers here we come.
Who starts instead of O’Driscoll. Candidates are Marshall (a 12), Henshaw (Inexperienced / better fullback) Cave (untried) McFadden (better for sub role / better winger), Bowe (not fully fit / untried). I assume McFadden as cover last week is the likely call. Not sure if there is any outstanding candidate for this game but Cave as a natural 13 nearly gets my vote. When Payne becomes eligible in autumn he leapfrogs them all. Hopefully O’driscoll recovers because without him an edgy win will become a narrow loss
If BOD out has to be Cave at 13, im a big Henshaw fan but he better suited to FB and his best performances for Connacht has been there
I’d agree with you on Cave. He’s a natural 13 who is in great form. If you can’t get in scoring the way he has been provincially this year, then you’re forever doomed.
That said, I’d also like to see Madigan go in the centre. I continue to believe that might be his way to break in.
Cave is injured.
Cat amongst the pigeons here but I would think there’s a real chance of Darcy to 13 and Marshall at 12.
There’s a few options, joe had used Darcy at 13 before, pushing Marshall to 12.
He could go for any of henshaw, cave or McFadden and of course joe being joe there’s always the option he has up his sleeve.
If we can manage without PoC on the morning if a game then we can do the same without bod with a weeks notice.
Big difference between England and Scotland though Chris. I’d prefer to have BoD there before any one else. Defensive ability if no other reason. I think it would upset the team a bit too.
Who’s Bug?
And this is the start of the mind games.. Latest score = 1-0 to schmidt
Darcy to 13 and Luke Marshall at 12 if BOD isn’t fit? If I remember correctly Darcy made his debut in Paris in 2004 at 13 when BOD was injured
Trimble can cover outside centre, McFadden to the wing Henshaw to the bench.
It will be Henshaw if BO D is out, good game to try him out. If your good enough your old enough as they say
Odriscolls vertigo playing up again me thinks.
Does anyone here know where the Ireland rugby team usually train? I know that Leinster and Munster have their own facilities at the University College grounds and the Ireland football team uses Malahide’s facilities at Ganon Park. Anyone?
Who’s bug?