WTA Linz: Coco Gauff as Lucky Loser in the round of 16
The American Coco Gauff made it into the round of 16 of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz on Tuesday. The American slipped into the main draw for Maria Sakkari as Lucky Loser and won against Stephanie Vögele from Switzerland in two sets 6: 3, 7: 6 (3).
by Lukas Zahrer from Linz
last edit: Oct 08, 2019, 05:52 pm
"I only knew that I was playing the match 40 minutes before the start. I didn't know anything about my opponent and I only got to know her during the match," said Gauff in the press conference after the game.
In the first set, the only 15-year-old stormed quickly to 4-0, just to give her opponent two breaks again. After 49 minutes, however, she converted her fourth set ball to 6: 3.
The current number 110 in the world also started better in the second round. With two breaks she set 5: 2 and developed a match ball, but let Teichmann back into the game. The Swiss player got four games in series, she served to win the set before Gauff saved himself in the tie break.
There she was 2: 3 behind, but made the next five points in a row and took the win after two hours and four minutes. In the round of 16, Gauff now meets Kateryna Kozlova, who took Anna Blinkova out of the tournament in three sets. It is Gauff's sixth appearance in a main field of the WTA tour.
"It's a bit faster in the hall. The difference is not too big compared to outdoor matches," said Gauff.
Laura Siegemund continues after fought off match balls
Laura Siegemund's first round game against Fiona Ferro was even more dramatic. The 31-year-old gave three match balls in the second set of 5: 4, 40-0 in the second set and had to go into a third round against her French opponent.
There Ferro awarded two match balls at serve Siegemund, the German took the momentum and converted her fourth match ball after more than three hours.
Julia Görges surprisingly had few problems with Margarita Gasparyan. She defeated the Russian 6: 4, 6: 2 and now meets Andrea Petkovic in the round of 16. The two had already faced each other in the first round of Linz last year.
Later on Tuesday, Belinda Bencic and Donna Vekic come to Linz for their first assignment.
WTA Linz: Results from Tuesday (1st round)
| victress | loser | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | Nina Stojanovic (SRB) | 7: 6 (5), 6: 2 |
| Alize Cornet (FRA) | Barbora Strycova (CZE) (7) | 6: 4, 6: 4 |
| Cori Gauff (USA) (LL) | Stephanie Voegele (SUI) (Q) | 6: 3, 7: 6 (3) |
| Laura Siegemund (GER) | Fiona Ferro (FRA) | 6: 2, 5: 7, 7: 5 |
| Julia Görges (GER) (5) | Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) | 6: 4, 6: 2 |