Oakland: Hollow in the Quarters

Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, Posted on Thu Jan 5 2023 09:37

World No. 7 and Auckland’s top seed, Coco Gauff, advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating compatriot Sofia Kenin. Emma Raducano injured her ankle.

Coco Gauff preferred to play the Auckland tournament rather than the US Cup with the United States to start her season, and No. 7 shines just like her country (she made it to the semi-finals of the new mixed team competition), with a qualifier to the quarter-finals of New Zealand, a No. 1 seed. The 19-year-old was up against compatriot Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open winner but now ranked 227th in the world, winning 6-4, 6-4 in h24. Gauff was able to count on a very good serve, gaining 9 aces, 69% of first serve and conceding only once. In the first set, she led quickly 4-1 and then 5-3, but collapsed when serving for the set. Kenin made it back to 4-5, but was also broken and her young opponent managed to pocket the set. In the second, he allowed one successful break in the best time, at 5-4, to win the final at Roland Garros. The next challenger, the Chinese Zhu, who dominated Venus Williams (42), who won her first victory in the first round since June 2021. No. 7 seed Danka Kovinic qualifies at the expense of Lauren Davis: 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 2h14. Emma Raducano and Lila Fernandez will also be in New Zealand court this Thursday.

Raducanu in tears, Fernandez urgently

Emma Raducano, who had fallen to No. 78 in the world after a very disappointing 2022 season where she did not confirm her victory at the 2021 US Open, was forced to retire against Victoria Kuzmova. The 20-year-old Briton won the first set 6-0 but lost the second 7-5. After spraining her ankle, she called the doctor, but had to throw in the towel and left the court in tears. Eleven days before the Australian Open kicks off, there is concern about the woman who is now coached by Sebastian Sachs, her fifth coach in a year and a half. The player Emma Raducano beat in the US Open final, Leila Fernandez (20, 40), was very quick to muster the quarterfinals. In just 45 minutes, the Canadian eliminated Austrian Julia Graber 6-0, 6-1 with not a single break point to save.