MONTREAL – Coco Gouf overcame 14 more double faults to beat Russia’s Veronica Kudermetova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 at the National Bank Open on Thursday.
Two days after surviving the 23 double faults and a tiebreaker in the third set with American Daniel Collins, top seeded Gouf rallied from the set and collapsed with Kudermetova to reach the 16th round.
“It was a tough match,” Gouf said. “I thought I did well mentally, especially when I returned home. I was playing someone who worked really well. Obviously, I want to serve better on my part, but overall, it’s just fun.”
World number two behind Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff has entered the week, losing two consecutive matches since winning the French Open and falling into opening matches at Berlin and Wimbledon.
“The plus that I’m winning these games is giving me literally having a part of my game on crutches,” Gouff said. “If I could stand on both legs, I can only imagine it would be easier and much easier for me.”
Gouf set up a match against 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, the 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 winner at Cekia’s Marie Boozkova in the night session.
Mboko is the last of the 10 remaining Canadians.
US McCartney Kessler destroyed Russia’s fourth seed Mira Andreva 7-6 (5), 6-4 seed Erina Svitorina Beat Russia’s Kamila Rakimova 7-5, 6-2
