WIMBLEDON, England — There was no need for Coco Gauff to hide away from the spotlight on Monday as she banished memories of her 2023 Wimbledon nightmare with a 6-1, 6-2 first-round destruction of fellow American Caroline Dolehide.
On the eve of this year’s grass-court championships, Gauff had admitted she had been “in a dark place” following her opening-round exit in London last year but armed with the knowledge that things “couldn’t get any worse” this time round, she was simply unstoppable against her 51st-ranked opponent.
“Last year I lost in the first round and it was very tough for me, that’s why I am a little emotional and that’s why I was happy to turn it around,” Gauff told the crowd on court.
The 20-year-old, now a Grand Slam champion having won the US Open in September, dropped only one point on serve during a formidable first-set performance.
Such was her confidence she conjured an incredible crosscourt lob into the far corner which she greeted with a one-armed salute as the Centre Court crowd jumped to their feet to roar their approval.
The world No. 2 kept up the barrage of winners in the second set and despite overcooking a forehand on her first match point, she made no mistake on her second.
In other women’s results, former world No. 1 Naomi…
