If fairytales require fairytale settings, they also require a certain magic.
Cori Gauff’s history-making run from Qualifying to the fourth round at Wimbledon had all of those elements as it was delivered on Centre Court at the All England Club.
In a two-hour, 47-minute comeback win over Polona Hercog, the teenager showed her enchanting talent is backed by spirited and remarkable depth of character.
Already the youngest Wimbledon qualifier in Open era history at age 15, Gauff saved two match points to triumph 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 over her more experienced opponent.
“Right now, I'm just super relieved that it's over. It was a long match and she was playing unbelievable. It was my first match on Centre Court. People were saying No.1 Court was my court but maybe it's Centre,” she beamed afterwards.
Gauff had earlier claimed a headline-grabbing first-round victory over five-time champion Venus Williams on the No.1 court, backing up on the same stage with victory over Magdalena Rybarikova.
But it was on Centre Court that the young American would most thrill an adoring audience with the history she’s creating.
"The crowd was amazing. Even when I was down match point they were still cheering me on,” she said. “I'm just thankful they were believing in me."
Nerves were understandable as Gauff initially sprinkled her smart hitting with untimely errors. At world No.60 and with three titles collected on the WTA Tour, Hercog is vastly more experienced and it showed as she carefully gained a first-set advantage.
In the seventh game, the 28-year-old was the obvious aggressor in an extended rally that forced Gauff into error, handing the Slovenian a first service break. Two games on, Gauff produced three double faults to help Hercog claim the opening stanza.
It was the first set that Gauff had surrendered in the 11 she had contested since Qualifying and with that, her rhythm was clearly disrupted. Also dropping serve in the second game of the second set, Hercog claimed seven straight games to seize a powerful advantage.
With a 5-2 lead, the Slovenian looked poised to complete an important victory – but that also allowed Gauff some freedom. A break point in the next game was also a match point, which the American boldly saved with a slice backhand winner.
Hercog served for the match but tension had escalated – on her second match point, she double faulted. Her own confidence returned, Gauff claimed the break and consolidated, earning a rousing standing ovation.
The dramatic tie-break - the American’s first in her professional career - was the turning point, Hercog defending three set points before Gauff secured it with a forehand winner after a stunning 32-point rally.
As the veteran Hercog tired in the third set, Gauff was brimming with positive energy. It played its part again as she gained a break for a 3-1 advantage and remained when the Slovenian rallied to claim back a break in the seventh game.
Gauff refused to buckle, wearing Hercog down to force a flurry of errors and secure her momentous victory.
The youngest player to reach the women's second week since fellow American Jennifer Capriati in 1991, Gauff now aims to continue her memorable progress against No.7 seed Simona Halep.
