Coco Gauff has a great future, says Angelique Kerber after ending the teenager’s Wimbledon hopes

Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber delivered a clinical performance in the women’s singles in the last 16 match at Wimbledon 2021, ending the hopes of teenager Coco Gauff on Monday. Kerber, 33, beat Gauff 6-4, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since winning Wimbledon in 2018.

Angelique Kerber was clinical as she maintained her composure when gutsy winds tested both players at the start of the match. After taking a 4-2 lead, there was no stopping the German. Gauff had not lost a set in matching her run to the fourth round on a startling debut in 2019, but the American was given a lessen in clinical efficiency by the left-hander.

While there were flashes of brilliance from the 20th seed, she could not sustain her level as the forehand that can be her Achilles heel broke down all to regularly.

“I have to say Coco is such a great talented player. She has such a great future in front of her. She will play here so many times and maybe one time she will get the title,” Kerber said.

Kerber, who won her first title in three years last week in Bad Homburg, established an early break of serve in the second set as Gauff double-faulted and was focused on her own service games as she edged towards victory.

Gauff tried to increase the aggression levels but Kerber showed great scrambling skills to maintain her lead and the German finished off her young opponent with just her second ace. She will next play Czech 19th seed Karolina Muchova on Tuesday. (With Reuters inputs).