MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff became the first woman through to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open on Sunday as she beat Magdalena Frech, 6-1, 6-2.
The 4th-ranked Gauff, who won her first major at the U.S. Open in September, needed just 63 minutes for victory in a match played on Rod Laver Arena in front of the man himself.
“Luckily when I saw him come in I was already well up,” Gauff said.
Coco Gauff is all smiles after her 6-1, 6-2 win over Magdalena Frech in the fourth round of the Australian Open. AP“I heard clapping and knew it wasn’t for us, it was only the first set. But thank you for coming, it’s an honor.”
Gauff will play Marta Kostyuk after the Ukrainian beat Maria Tomafeeva 6-2, 6-1 to reach the major quarterfinals for the first time.
Coco Gauff hits a forehand during her fourth-round win at the Australian Open. ReutersStill a teenager, Gauff drew attention to her shoes, which carry a number of messages, including one that says: ‘you can change the world with your racket,’ something her father told her as a little girl.
Men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic was ruthless in a 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino on Sunday, reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals and matching Roger Federer’s all-time Grand Slam record.
In a rare daytime appearance on Rod Laver Arena, the 10-time Australian Open champion hit 31 winners and raced to victory in 1 hour and 44 minutes to progress to the last eight for the 58th time at a major, equaling Federer’s record.
