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Tatiana set for Serena challenge
Tatiana Golovin set up a dream Wimbledon fourth round clash with Serena Williams on Monday.
Sixteen-year old French girl Tatiana Golovin set up a dream Wimbledon fourth round clash with defending champion Serena Williams on Monday and admitted that the thought of facing the great American had almost shattered her campaign.
Golovin, making her Wimbledon debut, clinched a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi in a third round match held off from Sunday with the tie level at 3-3 in the decider.
But the blonde teenager revealed that the prospect of facing the two-time winner for a place in the quarter-finals had led to an uncomfortable night's sleep.
"It was really tough to come back on to court today," said Golovin who has been a photographer's dream here with her hipster white shorts.
"I was thinking about playing Serena in the next round and that put a lot of pressure on me."
With Williams yet to drop a set in the tournament, Golovin said she was determined to enjoy her fourth round clash which will take place on Tuesday on either Centre Court or Court One.
"It's fantastic to be in the fourth round at Wimbledon," said Golovin.
"I will have to think about how to play well but I have to remember that when I play, I play to win and I have to believe that.
"I haven't thought about what sort of tactics I will use and whether I play on Centre Court or Court One, it doesn't really matter."
Golovin is enjoying a remarkable year on tour.
She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open as a 365-ranked wildcard and lifting the mixed doubles title at the French Open with compatriot Richard Gasquet.
Golovin, backed up her impressive start by reaching the Birmingham grasscourt final where she lost to fellow teenage starlet Russian Maria Sharapova.
Now in the top 50, the Moscow-born youngster followed her Wimbledon first round win over Russian Alinka Jidovka by knocking out number 18 seed Francesca Schiavone.
The teenager is getting used to the attention that surrounds being a top tennis professional and is enjoying her senior Wimbledon debut.
"It's really good, I had some good times here as a junior. When there's the public waiting at my car each time, waiting outside, that's really something and it makes me want to play. But you have to play good tennis, then people get interested," she said.
"You have to think about winning it but not too much because that puts pressure on yourself. I take it point by point, game by game, I think that way you can go further and be happy with a good match, a good result and not be thinking about whether you made the final."
