Coco Gauff Scores Controversial Win but Murray Is Edged Out
Locker Room
February 21, 2024
Coco Gauff and Sir Andy Murray experienced contrasting fortunes in the Middle East today – and no shortage of drama.
Coco and Murray will be huge stars at Wimbledon 2024 in a few months.
The American will be trying to win her first Wimbledon. Meanwhile Andy will want to go deep enough to make it a fitting farewell to the All England Club, where he has won the singles title twice.
In Dubai, Gauff argued with the umpire for nearly five minutes when he gave her a bad call. Karolina Pliskova had already hit her unsuccessful return by then.
Since Coco’s effort was later shown to be in, the point should automatically have been hers. She repeatedly called for the supervisor – but to no avail.
Coco was already up against it by then because she had fallen a set behind. But you write off the feisty Gauff at your peril. She enjoys a deserved reputation as a fighter.
Pliskova was on an eleven-match winning streak at this point in her year. She was probably pretty confident that win number twelve was almost in the bag.
Somehow Gauff – famous for her determination and mental strength – recovered her composure and channelled her anger to take a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory against the odds.
One final punchy serve removed all doubt for the USA’s young warrior.
Coco should provide more marvellous moments at Wimbledon 2024 – and we can’t wait for the historic English drama to unfold.
Now Gauff is in her third quarter-final of the year – and her second in succession in Dubai. But this was definitely the longest argument she has had with an official in a very long time.
Pliskova only offered Coco a cursory handshake after having her concentration disrupted. But the younger woman had been the right to point to the injustice of it all during the major talking point of that pivotal second set.
And sporting Gauff did have the good grace to shake hands with the umpire at the end of the contest.
She’ll play Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the semi-finals – and is expected to show no less fire in that match-up.
Over in Qatar, Andy Murray looked as though he had done the hard part after losing a first-set tie-break against young Jakub Mensik.
The British hero was even leading 2-0 and 3-2 in the deciding tie-break. His superior experience seemed to be carrying the day.
But then Murray’s stroke-play grew sloppy and he lost a gamble by coming into the net, only to be passed quite easily after connecting with his key volley poorly.
Despite the underdog winning 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4), there some encouraging signs that Murray’s tricky year might to be about to take a turn for the better.
Coco Gauff and Sir Andy Murray will be among the best-loved stars at Wimbledon 2024 in July.
Will you be there to see them? Could America have another Grand Slam champion on Centre Court this summer?
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