Nothing is as easy as it might seem like it should be at Wimbledon 2026 so far. Top seeds have struggled to put away matches, and some, such as Ben Shelton, have already been sent home. Coco Gauff teased the same in the second round against Solana Sierra.
The first set was smooth for the seventh-seeded American, as Gauff took it 6-3. Sierra wasn't playing badly, but Gauff was simply performing at her defensive wall best. Whatever the Argentine hit her way would be returned. Tennis fans likely assumed this would remain the case.
After all, the American does struggle with her serve at times, but if she dips in form during a match, it is usually early. On Wednesday at Wimbledon, though, it was Sierra, the WTA No. 56, who possibly began to change the outcome. She was able to get the break she needed in the second set to take that by the reverse score of the first.
Coco Gauff sneaks past Solana Sierra in the second round of Wimbledon 2026
Solana Sierra's unforgettable Wimbledon moment came at Coco Gauff's expense
After each player was pushed in the service games to begin the third and final set, Sierra was the player who got the first break to lead the match for the first time. Whether she could keep holding to win the match was still in doubt, however, simply because each player was returning efficiently.
The Argentine did get a hold to get to 5-3, though. Coco Gauff was unlikely to fade away easily, as she has made a career out of being as mentally strong as she is physically. She doesn't normally give away important matches; an opponent has to take them from her.
While Gauff has never made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon, she has won Grand Slams before, so her nerves would not have been nearly as bad as Sierra's, who had never won a tournament above a 125 event. This showed as Sierra tried to serve at the match at 5-4, but failed to do so. Gauff got the break.
To her credit, Sierra did force a tie-break by holding at 5-6. No one would have blamed her for wilting. The Argentine even jumped out to a lead in the tie-break, 7-4, but couldn't hold it. Through brilliantly athletic points, Gauff survived the match, taking the tie-break 10-7.
Coco Gauff will next play another American, Claire Liu, who defeated Zeynep Sonmez in her second-round match at Wimbledon. Liu won't be the favorite, though. She is only ranked No. 146.
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