Coco Gauff breezes into Wimbledon third round, eases past Anca Todoni

Coco Gauff became the first woman to reach the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday, dismissing Anca Todoni, 6-2, 6-1.

"I do think I can be too critical because 2-1 is clean," Gauff, ever the perfectionist, said in her post-match press conference. "I think it's just like moments, maybe I like missed some shots that I normally would make. Also that's tennis, you're always going to miss some shots that you normally would make. I am trying to focus on straight sets and winning cleaner."

Playing under the No. 1 Court roof, the No. 2 seed continued her dominant run of form with the loss of just six games in her first two matches at the All England Club, defeating the Romanian qualifier in 66 minutes.

"Obviously today I can't be too critical. I think on the court I was getting a little bit more frustrated than normal, considering the scoreline."

A year removed from a heartbreaking first-round loss—a loss that propelled her into a career-best stretch, culminating in a maiden major victory at the US Open—Gauff shook off the nerves in her first round against good friend and fellow American Caroline Dolehide, and set to work on Todoni, a teenager playing her first Grand Slam main draw.

The 19-year-old Romanian was ranked outside the Top 800 at the start of 2023, rocketing up the rankings over the last 18 months to find herself on the precipice of a Top 100 debut. Winning her way through qualifying, Todoni defeated lucky loser OIga Danilovic to score her first Grand Slam win and book a meeting with the in-form Gauff.

Opening the match with a break, Gauff navigated through a pair of tricky games as she attempted to consolidate her lead, saving two break points as Todoni threatened to level the opening set in the fourth game.

Once she held on, things got less complicated for the world No. 2, who reeled off five of six games to put herself up a set and a break. Even her misses were hitting: a shanked forehand return threaded the needle up and through the No. 1 Court roof, allowing the ball to remain in play. A frustrated Todoni persisted, getting on the board for 1-2, but lost the final four games of the match as Gauff broke for a near-flawless victory.

In all, Gauff struck 13 winners to 16 unforced errors, losing just three points behind her first serve and converting five of nine break opportunities. Todoni, by contrast, was unable to convert the two break chances she earned in the first set and struck 23 unforced errors in total.

Standing between Gauff and the second week will be British qualifier Sonay Kartal.

"It will be tough to face a Brit obviously, especially on grass," said Gauff. "I think that they always do really well, but especially in this environment."

Kartal, 22, thrilled the home crowd by winning her first Grand Slam main draw match against No. 29 seed Sorana Cirstea on Monday and backed up the victory with a three-set win over France's Clara Burel.