Coco Gauff’s US Open title defense came to an unexpected end as she was defeated by fellow American Emma Navarro in the fourth round in New York.
The third-seeded Gauff struggled with her serve throughout the match, committing 19 double faults, including 11 in the decisive third set. This inconsistency contributed to her 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to the 13th seed Navarro, who capitalized on Gauff’s errors to secure her place in the quarter-finals.
Navarro, who was born in New York, expressed her excitement after the match, saying, “I lost in the first round the last two years, and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane. This is the city I was born in, and it feels so special to be playing here.”
This victory marks a significant achievement for Navarro, who had previously defeated Gauff in the Wimbledon fourth round just two months earlier. Gauff had hoped to overcome the mental lapse she experienced in their previous meeting but was ultimately undone by her erratic serving and a total of 60 unforced errors.
Navarro will face 26th seed Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals, following the Spaniard’s dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over China’s Wang Yafan. Reflecting on her victory, Navarro showed respect for her opponent, saying, “Coco is an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her, and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again.”
Gauff’s defeat ends her attempt to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to defend the US Open title. Navarro’s win also makes her the youngest American woman to reach the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Williams did so in 2004.
Navarro started the match strongly, capitalizing on Gauff’s early double faults to earn a break point in the first game. Although Gauff initially held her serve, more errors later in the set handed Navarro the advantage. Navarro secured the first set with a commanding hold to love, even outlasting Gauff in a grueling 27-shot rally.
Despite her struggles, Gauff fought back in the second set, overcoming a break to win the set and level the match. The crowd at Flushing Meadows rallied behind her as she broke Navarro’s serve again to force a deciding set.
However, Gauff’s serving woes returned in the final set, with three consecutive double faults giving Navarro the crucial break for a 2-1 lead. Gauff continued to falter on her serve, and Navarro seized the opportunity, eventually clinching the match with a forehand error from Gauff.
“I fought really hard today. I just didn’t take care of my serve, so that was the biggest difference,” Gauff admitted after the match. “Mentally and emotionally, I gave it my all. I wish I could have served better because it would have been a different story.”
Navarro’s win propels her into the world’s top 10, continuing her rapid ascent in professional tennis. After making her mark as a standout college player, Navarro has enjoyed a breakthrough year, winning her first WTA title in Hobart and reaching back-to-back Grand Slam quarter-finals.
“When I first left college, my coach and I made a two-year contract to fully commit to professional tennis, and then we would reassess after that,” Navarro revealed. “I think I hit the two-year mark this June, and we didn’t even acknowledge it or talk about it. I definitely have surpassed my expectations for sure.”
Reported By BBC Sports.
