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Gauff continues magical run while Djokovic eases through
Coco Gauff continued her magical Wimbledon debut on Wednesday when she became the youngest player since 1991 to reach the third round as defending champion Novak Djokovic made the last 32 for the 11th successive year.
Gauff, just 15 and who had to come through qualifying, had already stunned five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round.
She showed that was no fluke as the world number 313 defeated 2017 semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3 under the new Court One roof.
“Oh my! That is out of this world”
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
The hot shots on Day 3 were something else…#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3KLOR3j0Me
The American schoolgirl is the youngest player in the last 32 since Jennifer Capriati, also 15, went all the way to the semifinals 28 years ago.
"I played well especially on the pressure points," said Gauff.
"I'm just still shocked that I'm even here. I think I can beat anyone. If I don't think I can win the match then I won't even step on the court."
The journey continues…
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
15-year-old @CocoGauff beats former #Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova in straight sets to book her place in the third round pic.twitter.com/60juztgXej
Four-time champion and world No 1 Djokovic hit 13 aces and 37 winners as he eased past Denis Kudla of the United States, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
"I'm pleased with my game overall. There were some moments in the match where maybe I could have done better," said the defending champion.
"But overall, a solid performance."
A step closer to a fifth #Wimbledon title.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
Last year’s champion @DjokerNole is a comfortable second round winner over Denis Kudla pic.twitter.com/ddEPCSCgbn
Djokovic goes on to face Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the last 16 having defeated the Pole in straight sets in the first round at Roland Garros in May.
Victory in that match could see him face 18-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the youngest man in the draw.
The 19th seed saw off French qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to make the third round of a Slam for the first time.
Last year's beaten finalist Kevin Anderson, the South African fourth seed, also progressed with a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia.
Three-time major winner Stanislas Wawrinka fell in five sets to 6ft 11in (2.1m) Reilly Opelka.
Two-time quarterfinalist Wawrinka, 34, was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 by his American opponent, the tallest man in the sport and 13 years his junior.
Opelka fired 23 aces and 59 winners and goes on to face 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic of Canada.
Opelka will be appearing in the third round at a Slam for the first time having never won a grass court match in his career prior to coming to Wimbledon.
Marathon men.@ReillyOpelka reaches the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time on his #Wimbledon debut after an epic five-set duel against Stan Wawrinka#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hiByieuxBd
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
Wawrinka won heartfelt applause for giving a line judge a warm embrace after accidentally colliding with her as he sprinted to hit a backhand.
"I was a bit too far to return a serve. I think I went against her, so I was sure she had some pain and was not happy, so I gave her a little hug," said the genial Swiss.
Also feeling the pain was Russia's Margarita Gasparyan who was forced to retire when just two points from victory against Ukraine eighth seed Elina Svitolina.
World number 62 Gasparyan was 7-5, 5-4 ahead when she collapsed to the ground on Court Three, suffering with cramping.
Although she bravely tried to continue, the Russian, who has undergone three knee surgeries in her career, was forced to quit.
'UNFORTUNATE FOR HER'
"I was a little bit shocked, it's never nice to get this when someone is injured like that," said Svitolina who goes on to face Greece's Maria Sakkari for a place in the last 16.
"It's really unfortunate for her."
Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco staged the comeback of the day when he recovered from two sets and 3-0 down to defeat British No 1 Kyle Edmund 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4.
Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova reached the last 32 with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Puerto Rico's Olympic champion Monica Puig.
There’s no stopping @KaPliskova when she’s in this kind of form ??
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2019
The Czech advances to the third round, beating Monica Puig 6-0, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/CBfWj14CvD
Pliskova, one of four players who could end Wimbledon as world No 1, will face Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan for a spot in the fourth round.
Former world No 1 and double Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka swept past Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-0.
Azarenka, now at 40 in the world, was a semifinalist at the All England Club in 2011 and 2012.
Next up is a last-32 clash with fellow ex-world No 1 Simona Halep who defeated fellow Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
"We have had very tough matches in the past," said Halep, who beat Azarenka at Wimbledon in 2017.
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