Coco Gauff extends Wimbledon stay with comeback over Solana Sierra

Seventh-seeded Coco Gauff pulled off a major escape by scoring the final six points of a third-set tiebreaker to register a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7) victory over Argentina's Solana Sierra in the second round of Wimbledon on Wednesday in London.

Gauff trailed 5-3 in the third set before making her comeback. When Sierra led 5-4 and was serving for the match, Gauff came through with a clutch break.

"When she had to serve for the match I just reminded myself that I'm a great returner as well," Gauff said. "I was just trying to be positive and I think that showed."

Then down three in the 10-point tiebreaker, Gauff emerged to avoid an early exit.

Gauff held a 10-0 edge in aces and made just 24 unforced errors compared to Sierra's 45.

Gauff will face fellow American Claire Liu in the third round on Friday.

No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva wasn't as fortunate as Czech Barbora Krejcikova produced a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over the Russian.

Krejcikova, the 2024 Wimbledon champion, had a 38-35 edge in winners in her comeback victory.

She will next face Nikola Bartunkova, who beat No. 32 Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-4 in an all-Czech affair.

"Barbora, she's a Grand Slam champion. I will try my best and you will see," Bartunkova said.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus had a 7-1 edge in aces while landing a 6-1, 7-6 (9) victory over McCartney Kessler.

Sabalenka said it wasn't an easy win on the court.

"Incredible level in the second set from her," Sabalenka said on-court of Kessler. "She really tested me today, and I'm really happy to pass the test ... She really stepped in, she played super aggressive. It felt like whatever decisions she would make, it would work for her."

No. 4 Jessica Pegula advanced with a 7-6 (6), 6-1 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.

In other second-round matches, 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova knocked off China's Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-2, while No. 11 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland notched a 7-5, 6-0 victory over China's Xinyu Wang.

No. 14 Naomi Osaka of Japan cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Anastasia Gasanova of Russia, No. 16 Iva Jovic rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Tatjana Maria of Germany and No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia was a 7-5, 7-5 winner over Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand.

No. 19 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia outlasted France's Diane Parry 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8).

--Field Level Media