At 15 years of age, Coco Gauff is already a huge celebrity in Delray Beach (her hometown). The American sensation was scheduled to play an exhibition ahead of the ATP250 event that will be played in the upcoming week. Coco was opposed to Estela Perez Somarriba that plays at college level (she is the NCAA champion) and she made a quick work of her with a 6-3 6-3 win in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. What was impressive was the Coco’s ability to make a full house as the local fans didn’t miss the chance to see their champion.
After the match, Coco commented: “I don’t put much pressure on myself, I just try to go out and have fun. Today was relaxed, it was pretty cool.”
Estela Perez Somarriba was elated to play the teenager to comment: “Coco is such an inspiration for every tennis player. She’s shown that anyone can do it. For someone who is trying to do the same, it was such an experience.”
🎤 “It’s just so special to play in the first women’s match on this court.”
The hometown hero shares her thoughts on this special evening…@CocoGauff | #DBOpen 😊 pic.twitter.com/Pnhglwiwwm
— Delray Beach Open (@DelrayBeachOpen) February 16, 2020
Coco Gauff welcomed home at the @DelrayBeachOpen! pic.twitter.com/vWiFfY9GBb
— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) February 16, 2020
Coco Gauff beats @estelasomarriba 6-3, 6-3 in about 1 hour, 15 minutes in front of a packed house at the @DelrayBeachOpen Great show! A lot of happy fans and great @CanesWTennis support for Estela, the 2019 NCAA champ. pic.twitter.com/cA2ZqZgd5G
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) February 16, 2020
Tonight Coco Gauff is representing women’s tennis at an ATP event in her hometown on a court she grew up practicing on. Full circle.
NCAA champ and UM senior Estela Perez-Somarriba with plenty of fans as well.
Very cool. pic.twitter.com/weEoCuqwGE
— Blair Henley (@BlairHenley) February 16, 2020
Huge buzz for hometown girl Coco Gauff at the @DelrayBeachOpen (everyone with their mobile phones out taking photos) at the start of her exo with NCAA champ @estelasomarriba from @CanesWTennis pic.twitter.com/6UzouYVJAr
— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) February 16, 2020
Cori Gauff’s ranking and performance in 2020
Currently the world no.51 (career-high), Gauff played her last match on the 26th of January when she was defeated by Sofia Kenin 6-75 6-3 6-0 in the 4th round of the Australian Open.
This exhibition was played ahead of the ATP250 whose top3 seeds are Nick Kyrgios, Milos Raonic and Reilly Opelka.
Nick Kyrgios’s ranking and performance in 2020
At the moment ranked no.20, the Australian played his last match on the 27th of January when he lost to Rafael Nadal 6-3 3-6 7-66 7-64 in the 4th round of the Australian Open.
Nick Kyrgios’s most significant accomplishment of this year was reaching the semi-finals in the ATP Cup.
Nick will commence his run in Delray Beach against Tommy Paul.
Milos Raonic’s ranking and performance in 2020
Ranked world no.32, the Canadian played his last match on the 12th of February when he lost to Soon-Woo Kwon 7-64 6-74 6-4 in the 2nd round in New York.
Milos will play Andreas Seppi in the 1st round. The Italian has just reached the final in New York.
Reilly Opelka’s ranking and performance in 2020
Ranked no.40, Opelka played his last match on the 14th of February when he capitulated to Jason Jung 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the quarter in New York.
