New York, Sept 2: The 2024 U.S. Open became a tournament Coco Gauff will want to forget quickly, as the defending champion was unexpectedly ousted in the Round of 16 by fellow American Emma Navarro. In a match filled with tension and uncharacteristic errors, Gauff fell 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, marking a disappointing end to her title defense.From the outset, Navarro displayed a composed and aggressive game, taking control of the first set 6-3. Gauff, known for her resilience, fought back in the second set, which turned into a seesaw battle. With the set tied at 3-3, Navarro broke Gauff’s serve, seemingly poised to close out the match. However, Gauff responded in kind, breaking Navarro’s serve and then securing the next two games to take the set 6-4, forcing a decisive third.
The momentum initially appeared to favor Gauff, who won the first game of the final set. But Navarro, undeterred by the occasion, seized the next three games, putting the pressure back on Gauff. The two then traded games, with Navarro eventually leading 5-3 and Gauff serving to stay in the match. However, Gauff’s serve faltered under pressure, culminating in three costly double faults in the final game. With 19 double faults overall—11 of which came in the third set—Gauff’s serve proved to be her undoing. After her final double fault handed Navarro the victory, a frustrated Gauff threw her racket to the ground, a rare display of emotion from the usually composed young star.
This loss marks a troubling trend for Gauff, as it’s the second consecutive Grand Slam where she failed to advance past the Round of 16, after previously making it to at least the semifinals in three straight majors. The defeat also continues a curious pattern at the U.S. Open: no defending champion has reached the semifinals since Serena Williams in 2015, and Gauff’s early exit extends that streak to six years.
For Navarro, the victory is a significant milestone, propelling her into the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. Her composed play and ability to capitalize on Gauff’s mistakes have marked her as a rising star in American tennis.
As for Gauff, this unexpected exit will likely prompt some reflection as she looks to regroup and regain the form that saw her win her first Grand Slam title just a year ago. The road to redemption may be challenging, but Gauff’s talent and tenacity suggest that she will learn from this setback and return stronger in future tournaments.
