WIMBLEDON, London: Cori Gauff, at 15 the youngest ever qualifier for the Wimbledon singles, pulled off a major shock on Monday, beating one of her idols five-time champion Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in their first round clash.
The teenage American — who was not even born when Williams had won her first two Wimbledon singles titles — showed not an ounce of fear on Court One, making light of the 24 years age difference.
“I don’t really know how to feel,” said 313th-ranked Gauff, who sunk into her chair and cried in the aftermath of her victory.
“This was definitely the first time I ever cried after a match, winning!“
Gauff, who said she took up tennis due to the exploits of Venus and her younger sister Serena, was watched by her family and paid tribute to them.
“I don’t even know what my parents will be saying,” she said.
“I’m just so happy and blessed that they spent all their time on me and my brothers in making sure that we’re successful.
“I never thought this would happen. I’m literally living my dream right now. Not many people get to say that.”
Williams had looked increasingly lost during the encounter, although she did break back in the second set and saved several match points, but sank to her knees by her racquet bag before walking off without waiting for the youngster.
“She (Williams) just told me congratulations and to keep going and good luck,” said Gauff, who won thr French Open junior girls title last year.
“I told her thank-you for everything she did.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.
“I was telling her that she was so inspiring. I always wanted to tell her that.”
15-year-old Cori Coco Gauff stuns idol Venus Williams in Wimbledon first round
15-year-old Cori Coco Gauff stuns idol Venus Williams in Wimbledon first round
- Teenage American was not even born when Williams had won her first two Wimbledon singles titles
- Williams looked increasingly lost during the encounter
Tudor says turning round Tottenham his hardest job
- Spurs’ woeful run of form under Thomas Frank saw the Dane sacked earlier this month
- Tudor, asked Thursday if this was his biggest rescue job, replied: “Probably, if I see, if I recognize the difficulties there are, probably, yes”
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor says ensuring the club avoid relegation from the Premier League represents the hardest challenge of his career.
Spurs’ woeful run of form under Thomas Frank saw the Dane sacked earlier this month, with Tudor brought in to replicate the kind of mid-season recovery he managed with Italian sides Juventus and Lazio.
Tottenham last played outside the English top flight in the 1977/78 season and Tudor’s first game in charge ended in a 4-1 derby defeat to north London rivals and league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
This latest loss extended Tottenham’s winless league run to nine matches and made it only two wins from their last 18 in the division.
Spurs are now 16th in the table and just four points above the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s match away to Fulham.
Tudor, asked Thursday if this was his biggest rescue job, replied: “Probably, if I see, if I recognize the difficulties there are, probably, yes. It’s even a bigger challenge, even a bigger motivation to do this and we do it.”
He added the role was harder than he envisaged, but stressed work on the training ground can spark a revival.
“Probably yes,” Tudor said. “Yes, very tough, but it’s what I said before, I don’t change my opinion, it is how it is, so, daily work, focus, raising in all things we need to do, physical condition, mental confidence, performance and waiting for the players to come back.
“We need to be focused on us, what we can do, less thinking about others, that’s always good and it will be good.”
Spurs will discover their Champions League opponents for the last 16 on Friday, but Tudor promised to waste no “energy” on European fixtures with either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray.
“I don’t think too much about the draw,” he said. “It won’t change for me nothing.”
The Croatian will be buoyed by the return of defender Kevin Danso and full-back Pedro Porro for Sunday’s fixture at Craven Cottage.
