(SATSports) – Angelique Kerber fought her way past teenage sensation Coco Gauff, with a statement making 6-4, 6-4 victory over the American to book a spot in the last eight.
It was a matchup of experience against youth when the two phenomenons stepped up on court for their first meeting, with experience having a three time majors edge over youth that is yet to be nurtured to perfection.
The first set got off to a rather windy and rocky start, as both players found it hard to pick up their serves, resulting in three straight break of serves to get the match rolling. It was Kerberwho would shrug off the nerves and get used to the windy Center Court as she sealed the third game break with a hold of her own serve.
Gauff, making her second fourth round appearance at the championship, got in rhythm too late in the first set, landing her serves and picking up angles with her backhand but it was the German who would go on to seal the first set.
The 2018 champion, pounced early in the second, breaking off a Coco double fault to take a 2-1 lead and her level just got absolutely ridiculous from then on, playing great defensive tennis and finding unbelievable anglesto keep her run for a second Wimbledon title rolling. The teenager, however showed great fight, notably in the eighth game, earning two break points but Kerber was just too strong as she saved both of them.
Angelique, the only former champion left in the draw had played over two hours more than her opponent but seems really set for another London major title, after winning a home grass court tournament she has all the momentum to go deep in the second week.
