Cross earns hardware at Wimbledon, nearly upsets No. 1 seed

Kayla Cross continued her rise in the junior tennis ranks last week, finishing runner-up at Wimbledon in Junior Girls’ Doubles (with partner Victoria Mboko), and impressing in Singles play, too.

(Photo: Martin Sidorjak / Tennis Canada)

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Kayla Cross ticked off another accomplishment in her tennis career last week – and she did so in impressive fashion, nearly taking down the No. 1 seed in the Girls’ Singles event at Wimbledon, and then earning a second-place finish in Doubles with her partner, Victoria Mboko.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway? The resilience the 17-year-old showed in the face of challenge and disappointment – and the learning experience she’ll take with her to the next tournament as she continues her rise in the junior ranks.

Playing on Court 8 at the All England Club last Wednesday, the London, Ont., native seemingly had American Liv Hovde beat in the third round of Singles action. Up 5-4 and on match point in the second set, Hovde hit a ball that was called out by the referee. Thinking she’d won the match, Cross celebrated and walked towards the net for post-match handshakes.

But Hovde challenged the call, and it was overturned by the Hawk-Eye computer system. The match was not over. They replayed it, and Cross lost the point. Then she lost the game. And then the second set (5-7). The momentum had shifted, and Hovde continued to control the play in the third, going up 5-2. But Cross didn’t give up. She took two games in a row, despite battling tired legs. She ultimately fell 4-6 in the third set to Hovde, who went on to win the singles title, but the Londoner showed a lot of fight.

(Photo: Martin Sidorjak / Tennis Canada)

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“It was an amazing match and an amazing experience,” Cross said in a phone interview upon her return to Ontario. “Just knowing that I’m that close to beating someone who won Wimbledon is a great confidence booster. It obviously sucks that I didn’t get the win, but every match is a learning experience, and that’s just another one to put in my book of learning, and hopefully next time I can get the win.”

Kayla Cross & Vicky Mboko off to a good start in the @Wimbledon girls doubles final.

Up 6-3 - Set 2 about to get underway @TSNTennis pic.twitter.com/RuWNgBNBPz

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) July 9, 2022

Cross had to regroup quickly. Just hours later, she was back on the court, this time with Mboko for their Round of 16 doubles match against Ella Seidel and Joelle Lilly Sophie Steur of Germany. The Canadians won, 6-4, 6-3. The next day they won their quarterfinal match, 1-6, 7-5 (13-11). In the semis on the weekend, the No. 4-ranked duo beat Nikola Bartunkova (Czech Republic) and Celine Naef (Switzerland), who were ranked No. 1.

Though they fell short of the doubles title, finished second to match their performance at this past winter’s Australian Open Juniors event, Cross and Mboko came very close to winning it all at Wimbledon. In the end, they lost 6-3, 4-6 (9-11) to Angella Okutoyi of Kenya and Rose Marie Nijkamp of the Netherlands.

“We knew going in that we could do well,” said Cross, who won the doubles title with Mboko at Roehampton, the lead-up event to Wimbledon. “We both love the grass, and we always play well together. It was an amazing run. Getting any trophy from Wimbledon is very special, so we’re enjoying it.”

Another final for Victoria Mboko and Kayla Cross in a Grand Slam Juniors tournament! What a doubles team. 🇨🇦

Today was again not what they were hoping for, losing in a tough 6-3, 4-6, 9-11 match at @Wimbledon, but their time will come for sure!

Keep fighting. 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/ARNpGtUZIH

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) July 9, 2022

Cross has already jetted off to Saskatoon for her next tournament, but before she left, she took some time to reflect on the latest experience in her burgeoning tennis career.

“The whole atmosphere at Wimbledon is incredible. You hear about it being prestigious and everything like that, but until you go there and experience it in real life … it’s crazy. Everything is down to perfection. Everyone is dressed up so fancy, and everything you need is provided for you.

“Everyone was so nice to the juniors,” she continued. “They treated us amazing. You didn’t feel like you were a junior. You got practice courts, you got towels, you got very good physios, referees, ball kids … they made you feel special. I think that was definitely the highlight of the tournament.”