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American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin

, American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin

THE Coco Gauff fairy-tale is over after she lost her shot at history.

The 15-year-old American, who defeated the defending champion Naomi Osaka on Friday, was out-muscled and out-manoeuvred by fellow countrywoman Sofia Kenin in the Last 16 of the Australian Open.

Coco Gauff was aiming to reach the quarter-finals of a Slam for the first time
, American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin
Sofia Kenin won the Battle of the Yanks and is in the last eight for the first time

Gauff was attempting to become the youngest woman to reach the quarter-finals of a Slam since Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva excelled at the 2005 French Open and only the eighth minor (under-16) in the Open era.

Yet despite winning the first set on a tie-breaker and managing to react well whenever Kenin broke her serve, Gauff was bundled out of the tournament 6-7 6-3 6-0.

At the end of the two-hour battle, Kenin proved too strong and her experienced told in the decisive stages.

In spite of her exceptionally strong backhand, a fearless and fearsome weapon, Gauff hit SEVEN doubles faults and recorded an unforgivable 48 unforced errors.

Mistakes she will probably iron out with more matches and more time.

The third set, in particular, took just 33 minutes and was a crushing lesson against the No.14 seed that while her time will come, it is not quite now.

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Kenin, 21, will now face Tunisian Ons Jabeur, and this is her first appearance in the last eight of a Major.

The Moscow-born star said: It was such a tough match.

She is such a tough player. All respect to her. It means a lot. I am happy to be through to the next round.

I did the best I can. Coco is playing well.

I had to focus on my own game, fight for every point, and not focus on anything else.

Had Gauff made the last eight, she would have achieved the feat in only her THIRD Grand Slam.

That would have been accomplished quicker than the likes of legends Serena Williams (who took seven attempts), Steffi Graff (nine), Martina Hingis (five) and Billie Jean King (five).

Of the biggest names in this sport, only Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert managed to reach latter stages in shorter time.

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That bodes well and she will be back. That’s for sure.

For the latest Australian Open odds, check out Betway Tennis.

, American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin

, American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin
Kenin will now face Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the next round in Melbourne
, American teenager Coco Gauff exits the Australian Open at the hands of fellow Yank Sofa Kenin
Gauff was playing in just her third Grand Slam after appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open

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