Cori Gauff is still making her debut Wimbledon campaign seem like child’s play.
The 15-year-old sensation, who beat Venus Williams in round one, continued her stunning progress by sweeping past former semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova.
Undaunted by playing under the lights of the Court One roof – the match did not begin until 8.05pm – Gauff put in another nerveless display.
It may have been approaching her bedtime but the young American stayed utterly focused to secure a commanding 6-3 6-3 victory in an hour and nine minutes.
Rybarikova has slipped to 139 in the world but she certainly has pedigree, a seasoned grass-court player who made the last four just two years ago.
Gauff is no respecter of reputations, though. Nor is she lacking in confidence, having already declared she is here to win the tournament, and after three assured service games she switched up a gear and broke Rybarikova to love.
A hold to love clinched the first set, and she broke again for 2-1 in the second with Rybarikova unable to find an answer to the relentless, machine-like groundstrokes.
Yeah, we got that on camera! 😁👍@CocoGauff meets @rogerfederer! pic.twitter.com/ir204b88f2 — WTA (@WTA) July 3, 2019
Gauff had a brief chat with Roger Federer before the match, and the eight-time winner will have no doubt approved as two superb serves got her out of a mild sticky patch for 4-2.
Rybarikova desperately wanted to force Gauff to serve out the match but she was having none of it, and as the weary Slovakian dumped a return into the net the teenager celebrated another hugely impressive victory.
Gauff will play world number 60 Polona Hercog in round three after the Slovenian beat 17th seed Madison Keys.
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