Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff survived another Wimbledon scare, battling past Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) after a dramatic tie-break turnaround to reach the third round on Wednesday.
Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam where the American has never gone beyond the fourth round, and the seventh seed was staring at an early exit against an opponent who last year became the first lucky loser in the Open era to reach the women’s last 16.
Gauff rattled through the first set on Court No 1 but lost her way in the second, possibly unsettled by a bizarre serve that went sideways into the umpire’s chair.
Sierra, now ranked world No 56 and a direct entrant at Wimbledon, broke the American to love to race into a 2-0 lead and extended her advantage to 4-1 before forcing a deciding set.
The 22-year-old Argentine then had a break point on 1-1 but Gauff saved it and dished up a mighty 124mph serve to regain the advantage and go 2-1 up.
Sierra saved a break point for 2-2, and two more to hold at 3-3, before turning things around and breaking Gauff to go 4-3 up.
Serving to stay in the match at 5-3, Gauff held on and then broke her opponent to regain the momentum and leave Sierra on the back foot and fighting for survival.
The Argentine took a 7-4 lead in the tie-break but Gauff then won six points in a row, capping her performance with a 117mph ace on the first of two match points.
