Coco Gauff is playing really well at the 2023 Eastbourne International, reaching the quarterfinals after beating Jodie Burrage.
In her short career, the teenager reached the quarterfinals on grass only once before. It was at the Berlin Open last year and despite last year's success, Gauff lost early in Berlin this season. After that, she moved to the United Kingdom to compete at the 2023 Eastbourne International, trying to forget the disappointing loss.
She did that successfully in the first round, beating fellow compatriot Bernarda Pera in two sets to record the 25th win of the season. After the match, Gauff admitted that she didn't want to find any excuses for her previous loss, and focused on the current event as a home player Jodie Burrage awaited her next.
Ahead of the match, the 19-year-old said that she'll approach the match as any other, despite playing a home player. Gauff wanted to "feel her out" in the first couple of games, but before she even managed to do that, the match was almost over.
I just approach it the same as any other match, try to feel her out the first couple games. You can watch millions of film, but it's never going to feel like when you play them.
After both players felt out each other in the first couple of games, Gauff started her show in Eastbourne. The 19-year-old won ten consecutive games, bringing the score to 6-1, 5-0 very quickly.
Burrage was able to fight in front of the home crowd to avoid a bagel, and despite breaking back once, she couldn't win more than two games in the match as Gauff triumphed 6-1, 6-1 to book her second career quarterfinal.
Last year in Berlin, the American reached the semifinals also after making it to the last eight. This time, she may face a difficult task as her doubles partner Jessica Pegula also made a winning start in Eastbourne and the two may meet in the quarterfinals.