On Wednesday, Coco Gauff beat qualifier Anca Todoni 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round at the All England Club.
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Coco Gauff of the United States plays a backhand return to Anca Todoni of Romania during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Coco Gauff of the United States plays a prepares to serve to Anca Todoni of Romania during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Anca Todoni of Romania serves to Coco Gauff of the United States during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Coco Gauff of the United States plays a forehand return to Anca Todoni of Romania during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Coco Gauff of the United States plays Anca Todoni of Romania under the roof on court one on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Frances Tiafoe of the United States serves to Borna Coric of Croatia during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Frances Tiafoe of the United States plays a backhand return to Borna Coric of Croatia during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
APTOPIX Britain Tennis Wimbledon Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic of Australia during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand return to Emma Navarro of the United States during their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Emma Navarro of the United States waves after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan in their match on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy is congratulated by compatriot Matteo Berrettini following their second round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after winning a point during his second round match against compatriot Matteo Berrettini on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
Britain Tennis Wimbledon Matteo Berrettini of Italy reacts during his second round match against compatriot Jannik Sinner on day three at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
LONDON (AP) — Coco Gauff likes No. 1 Court at Wimbledon.
It’s where she beat Venus Williams back in 2019 when Gauff made her Wimbledon debut at age 15.
On Wednesday, Gauff beat qualifier Anca Todoni 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round at the All England Club.
“This is the court where I first started here at Wimbledon. Court 1 is always a special place for me to play on,” the 20-year-old Gauff said in her on-court interview.
The victory also allows Gauff, the No. 2 seed, to move another step away from last year’s first-round exit.
“Overall, I just learned about life a lot,” the U.S. Open champion said when asked about putting that three-set loss to Sofia Kenin behind her.
“I just realized that, yes, what I do I’m very passionate about, but it’s not ever that serious and sometimes the world can make you feel like there’s so much pressure, there’s so much expectation,” she said. “At the end of the (day), it’s a game. It’s sport.”
The 19-year-old Todoni is from Romania and was making her Grand Slam debut.
“I do think I could have played cleaner at some moments,” Gauff said.
Five years ago, Gauff beat Williams — a five-time Wimbledon champion — 6-4, 6-4 in the first round and eventually reached the last 16, all in her Grand Slam debut.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz trailed 6-5 in the first set Wednesday before coming back to beat Aleksander Vukic 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-2, setting up a third-round meeting with No. 29 Frances Tiafoe after the American eliminated Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-1, 6-3.
When told by the on-court interviewer that Tiafoe said he’s “coming after you,” the 21-year-old Spaniard replied with a smile: “I’m going for him.”
“We played a really good match in the U.S. Open,” the No. 3 seed said of their 2022 semifinal that Alcaraz won at Flushing Meadows.
“I knew that I had to raise my level today,” Sinner said. “He is a grass-court specialist. … I’m very happy how I handled the situation.”
No. 11 Danielle Collins completed her first-round match — a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Clara Tauson. It had been suspended Tuesday night at 4-4 in the second set.
No. 20 Beatriz Haddad Maia advanced to the third round by beating Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-3.
