Gauff into Auckland quarterfinals. Raducanu out after falling in thriller to Svitolina
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/01/2024 (727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff overcame hard-hitting Czech teenager Barbara Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-0 and extended her winning start to the year and Auckland Classic defense to the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The 16-year-old Fruhvirtova came out hitting harder than any player at the tournament so far, generating enormous power off both hands. She troubled Gauff at first and broke the American’s serve to love in the third game.
Gauff immediately broke back in a game of 14 points to level at 2-2. After saving a break point in her next service game, Gauff broke again to lead 4-2.
She served for the first set and had to save a break point before clinching it in 40 minutes. Fruhvirtova tested Gauff with more high topspin but Gauff came through and finished the set with an ace.
Gauff immediately broke Fruhvirtova in the first game of the second set as she began to find more depth in her returns. She broke twice more and held serve with confidence, highlighted by a 190 kph (118 mph) ace.
Gauff had to save two break points as she served for the match at 5-0 but managed to allay any threat with her sixth ace.
Fruhvirtova came into the match with a WTA ranking of 117.
“She played a good match,” Gauff said. “I’ve known her since she was 10 years old. We used be in France, training at the same academy. Her and her sister (Brenda), we grew up playing or training beside each other and it’s great to see her on tour. I’m sure she’s going to go even further.”
Gauff will play eighth-seeded Varvara Gracheva of France in the quarterfinals on Friday. Gracheva beat Lulu Sun of Switzerland 6-3, 6-4.
Emma Raducanu’s tournament ended when the 2021 U.S. Open champion was beaten by second-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-1 in the final match of the second round.
But Raducanu will head to the Australian Open beginning on Jan. 14 confident of her fitness in her return from a nine-month injury break.
She played two marathon matches in Auckland and came through both unscathed, though she played with heavy strapping on her right thigh on Thursday. She took 2 1/2 hours to beat qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her first match.
Her match with Svitolina was the most gripping of the tournament so far and lasted almost three hours.
Raducanu led 5-2 in the first set but eventually had to take it in a tiebreaker after 71 minutes. Svitolina led early in the second set but Raducanu battled back to force a tiebreak. The Ukrainian won that set in 67 minutes.
Svitolina took a 5-0 lead in the third set and Raducanu looked fatigued at times. But she fought hard and stretched Svitolina when she served for the match at 5-1.
Seventh-seeded Petra Martic sent down six aces and converted four of nine break points on her way to beating Yuan Yue of China 6-2, 6-2. Martic will play American Emma Navarro in the quarters.
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis