Coco Gauff's unexpected but remarkable run at Wimbledon is over.
The 15-year-old born in Atlanta, who became the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon's main draw in the professional era, lost to former No. 1 Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round on Monday.
“I learned a lot,” said Gauff. “I learned how to play in front of a big crowd. I learned what it was like to be under pressure. I learned a lot and I’m really thankful for this experience.”
Gauff knocked out five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round, and then saved two match points in the third round to reach the second week of a Grand Slam tournament in her debut.
Playing on No. 1 Court, the second biggest stadium at the All England Club, Gauff had plenty of support from the crowd. But Halep, the 2018 French Open champion and a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2014, had the better shots. She broke Gauff five times and took advantage of 29 unforced errors.
Gauff — her given name is Cori but she prefers the nickname Coco — did manage to save two more match points when serving at 5-2, but Halep won the next game to reach the quarterfinals.
Gauff is the daughter of Corey Gauff, a former guard on Georgia State’s basketball team from 1990-93. She now calls Delray Beach, Fla., home.
A qualifier who is ranked 313th, she is the youngest player to make it to Week 2 at Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati in 1991.
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