Coco Gauff returns to Wimbledon fourth round, defeats Brit Sonay Kartal

Coco Gauff surged into Wimbledon’s second week on Friday, defeating British qualifier Sonay Kartal, 6-4, 6-0, dropping just 10 games through her first three matches.

The reigning US Open champion hadn’t reached the fourth round at the All England Club since 2021, having tumbled out of the tournament in the first round last year. Looking stronger with each win, Gauff made quick work of Kartal after 62 minutes on No. 1 Court.

"I think this year I'm just playing with a lot more confidence, trusting my ground game a lot, and returning a whole lot better," Gauff said after the match. "I think my return percentage has gone up a lot. I think when you're just putting a lot of returns in the court, you get into the point, it puts a lot of pressure on your opponent. On top of that, when I'm serving well, it can be difficult. I think it's just a lot of pressure. Honestly, I think the returning has made a big difference."

Wimbledon has long been a special tournament for the American, who made her major breakthrough at SW19 in 2019 as a 15 year old, stunning Venus Williams en route to the Round of 16.

Since her 2023 Wimbledon defeat, Gauff has been the most consistent woman at major tournaments, winning the US Open and reaching back-to-back semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Playing her first major tournament as the world No. 2, the 20-year-old breezed through her opening rounds to book a first meeting with Kartal, who battled her way through Wimbledon qualifying.

At 22, Kartal impressed in her major main-draw debut, stunning No. 29 seed Sorana Cirstea in three sets and backing up the win with a three-set triumph over France’s Clara Burel. Playing the biggest match of her career in front of her home crowd, Kartal acquitted herself well in the opening set, roaring back from 4-2 down in the opening set to level the contest at four games apiece.

Gauff caught fire from there, fighting through the next two games to take the set and reel off the final eight games of the clash, advancing into the fourth round in just over an hour.

"I think in the first set, she doesn't give you much pace, so you have to generate a lot of it," Gauff said. "When you do, she kind of uses your pace against you. I was missing a lot of, like, short balls, things maybe just going for too much. In the second, I tried to go for more margin and wait for the right one.

"It's kind of finding the balance. Obviously I hit some clutch backhands on the back of the line and one down the line. It's tough to find the balance of when to go for it and when not to."

The No. 2 seed will next face fellow American Emma Navarro, the No. 19 seed who rallied from a set down to defeat Diana Shnaider in three earlier on Friday.

"I've known her since I was young," Gauff recalled. "Basically since I started tennis. I think we played once in juniors, not even ITF level. I think it was USTA level. That's, like, a long time ago. Then obviously I played her this year in Auckland.

"She's a tough opponent. I always knew just watching her play, I mean, a lot of people think her ranking is a surprise. Just growing up with her, I always knew she was very talented and knew her game would translate well on tour. I think she has a very all-court game. Playing her is going to be a tough match. She's had some good wins this tournament. I don't expect it to be easy. Relationship-wise, we're very friendly with each other. I wouldn't say we're, like, close friends, just because we grew up, but then we kind of split because she went to college. But we're always very friendly with each other."