Aged 15 years and 122 days, Cori Gauff becomes youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon

Wimbledon
Cori Gauff

American Cori Gauff has entered the record books after becoming the youngest player to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon in the Open Era.

World No 301 Gauff, the 2018 French Open Junior champion, beat Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-1, 6-1 in 55 minutes in the third round of qualifying to set a new record at the age of 15 years and 122 days.

She is the first player under 16 to feature in the main draw at Wimbledon since Britain’s Laura Robson was awarded a wildcard aged 15 in 2009.

“I’m still in shock that I’m going to be playing main draw Wimbledon,” Gauff said. “I think my first memory was watching Serena playing Wimbledon, and I think she won – I don’t remember which year, she’s won so many times.”

Giulia Gatto-Monticone, meanwhile, realised another dream as she also made it into the main draw for the first time at the ripe old age of 31.

The Italian, who also reached the first round at Roland Garros for the first time this year, beat Oceane Dodin 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 and declared “It’s a dream come true!”

In men’s qualifying, British No 8 Liam Broady lost his final qualifier to Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, going down 3-6, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3

Australian teenager Alexei Popyrin advanced as the 19-year-old beat American Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3, 7-6 (7-6), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (8-6).

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