WIMBLEDON: Ash Barty has said she is hugely impressed by the fairytale run of 15-year-old qualifier Cory Gauff at this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
Gauff, who was born almost eight years after Barty, has stunned the women’s draw with a historic run. Handed a wild card into the qualifying tournament, she secured a spot in the main draw. Becoming the youngest player to have ever done that. Then on Monday, she knocked out five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in straight sets before going on to defeat Magdaléna Rybáriková. Rybáriková is also a former semi-finalist at the grand slam.
“She’s incredible. She really is. I saw her play a few years ago.” Barty said following her win over Alison Van Utyvanck.
“What you see is just an incredible athlete. I think she’s got a really good head on her shoulders. She seems very mature.”
It is unlikely the two will lock horns at The All England Club this year unless they both reach the final. Speaking about Gauff, Barty describes her as a ‘big-game player.’ The American played in the US Open girls final at the age of 13 back in 2017 before going on to win the French Open title a year later. Her first main draw victory on the WTA Tour took place at the Miami Open in March when she defeated Caty McNally in the first round.
“From the outside looking in, she seems like she’s really enjoying her tennis,” Barty commented.
“Looks like a big-game player. Loves the spotlight. Loves the moment. But also she’s earned her way here. She earned her way through qualifying, played some exceptional tennis.’
“I think she’s going to have a very, very bright future.”
Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Sloane Stephens are just some of the other players to pay tribute to Gauff. On Tuesday former US Open champion Stephens called for the age eligibility rule to be altered in order for the teenager to play more tournaments. Currently, young players like Gauff are restricted to how many events they can play in order to prevent burn-out.
“With her age eligibility rule, I think she’s a little bit limited, which I think they should change,” Stephens told press on Tuesday.
“But other than that, I think she’s on the right path. I think she has two great parents that are looking out for her, protecting her, making sure she has everything she needs. From that sense, I think there’s nothing but positives coming out of that corner. We’ll just have to see.”
Gauff will return to the court on Friday to take on Slovakia’s Polona Hercog in the third round.
