ASB Classic top seed Coco Gauff had a slight stumble when up 4-0, but put on a convincing performance to defeat Tatiana Maria from Germany 6-4 6-1 on Tuesday night.
It was a result that allowed the tournament organisers to breath another sigh of relief as Gauff produced some wondrous tennis to see off last year’s Wimbledon semifinalist.
“It was a good match for me, I got that early lead and I’m glad I didn’t panic when it came back.
“But playing Tatjana, I know she’s a tricky player, especially in these conditions. So I wasn’t expecting it to be an easy match and it wasn’t. Honestly, I was glad today mentally I was able to stay in there.”
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Gauff raced out to a 4-0 lead in the match and it looked like it was going to be over in no time at all. But Maria got it back to 4-4, breaking Gauff twice.
Gauff held in the next game and in the one that followed it got to deuce before at shower hit.
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Erin Routliffe did better than she expected to do against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who is ranked 91 in the world in singles.
When they game back, Gauff won the next two points quickly to go a set up and she confirmed that was a pivotal moment in the match.
“I think it was really crucial,” she said.
“I was telling myself to get the return in and I think I ended up pushing it, which probably isn’t good.
“But the rest of the games I think I returned pretty well after that.
“I wasn’t focussed on trying to win the two points, I was trying to give myself a shot to win the point and then what can happen from there, happens, unless she hits a good serve and for the most part she was serving a lot wide, so I know where she would probably go on the first point.”
While Gauff has been focussing on herself this week, she did notice Venus Williams’s impressive 7-6 6-2 win over Katie Volynets on Monday night, which was her first victory since last year’s Wimbledon.
“I didn’t see the match, I only saw the last game,” Gauff said.
“I’m pretty sure I was reading my book, and I was like ‘Oh, Venus is on’.
“It kept raining and stopping, but I did watch the last game and I know Katie Volynets, who she played, really well.
“It’s incredible she won, especially against Katie at her age and I think that’s really inspiring.
“To see her still winning is incredible and I don’t know if I’ll be out there at 42, but I hope I still love the game at 42, whether I’m playing or not.”
Meanwhile, Erin Routliffe, who won the playoff tournament to get a main draw wildcard for the Classic, lost 6-2 4-6 6-4 to Elena-Gabriela Ruse from Romania on Grandstand Court on Tuesday night.
Given that Routliffe rarely plays singles, it was an impressive performance from the 27-year-old against someone ranked 91 in the world in singles.
However, the end was disappointing, with Routliffe getting broken to love when serving at 4-5 in the third set.
“I’m happy with the way I fought,” Routliffe said.
“I’m obviously happy with the result, but that’s tennis. You’ve got to take the losses and soon wins will come.”
Routliffe struggled in the first set, but by the second realised she could live with Ruse and her confidence grew.
“Because I don’t play singles that often, I felt a bit rusty, like I said at the wildcard playoff and 25K (ITF tournament in Tauranga),” Routliffe said.
“But this is a whole other level, which I believe I can compete at. It took a bit for me to get into it and think that I could win.”
Routliffe did enough to show she should be in contention to play singles rubbers for New Zealand in the Billie Jean King Cup, but the question is whether she’ll look to play more singles on the Tour, or continue as a doubles specialist.
“It’s a hard question,” she said.
“I think that I can compete with her and playing singles does take a lot more physical preparation and a lot more time on the court.
“When you do that, your doubles takes a hit. Right now, my priority is doubles.
“Maybe I’ll sit down with my coaches and say if that helps my doubles game, maybe I’ll do it a couple more times a year.
“I definitely enjoyed it and I did surprise myself a bit with my level. I hope everyone enjoyed it.”
