Two-time winner Petra Kvitová and Roland Garros finalist Coco Gauff were eliminated in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday. Eighteen-year-old Gauff lost on the London grass in three sets (6-7 (4), 6-2 and 6-1) to Amanda Anisimova and Kvitová had to acknowledge her multiple in Paula Badosa.
The 32-year-old Kvitová lost after an exciting game of more than two hours against Badosa, the number four in the world: 7-5 and 7-6 (4). The Czech has largely blamed herself for the defeat: she failed to serve out the first set and left nine breakpoints unused in the second set.
Kvitová started her fourteenth Wimbledon with confidence, the tournament she won in 2011 and 2014. The number 26 in the world won the WTA 500 tournament in Eastbourne in the run-up to the Grand Slam tournament in London. With Badosa already in the third round, Kvitová was not exactly lucky in the draw.
The 24-year-old Spanish is for the second time in her career in the eighth finals of Wimbledon. The number four in the world only made it to the last eight of a Grand Slam tournament once; last year at Roland Garros. That was also her final station.
Badosa will face Simona Halep for a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The Romanian, who won Wimbledon in 2019, dealt with the Polish Magdalena Frech in the third round: 6-4 and 6-1.
Paula Badosa accepts Petra Kvitová’s congratulations.
Paula Badosa accepts Petra Kvitová’s congratulations. Photo: Getty Images
Gauff knocked by Anisimova
Earlier on Saturday, Gauff lost out. The eleventh-seeded American still won the first set via a tiebreak, but after that almost everything went wrong with the super talent. In total, she only won three games against her compatriot Anisimova, the number twenty on the placement list.
Anisimova took the last game on love, after which she received the congratulations from Gauff and lay down on the grass with her hands over her eyes with joy. In the fourth round, Anisimova will meet the unseeded French Harmony Tan. She was 6-1 and 6-1 too strong for the British Katie Boulter.
Last year, Gauff made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon, equaling her performance of 2019. At the time, as a fifteen-year-old, she caused a stir by making it to the last sixteen.
Last month, the global number twelve lost in the final battle at Roland Garros against Iga Swiatek, the number one in the world.
Congratulations from Coco Gauff to Amanda Anisimova.
Congratulations from Coco Gauff to Amanda Anisimova. Photo: Getty Images