Coco Gauff‘s desires of profitable back-to-back U.S. Open titles ended on Sunday by the hands of a budding rival.
For the second time this 12 months, fellow American Emma Navarro knocked Gauff out of a Grand Slam match. Within the fourth spherical at Arthur Asche Stadium, she made fast work of the reigning champion, profitable 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Amid a breakout season, Navarro was calm, relaxed, collected and (finest but) constant on the large stage en path to a quarterfinals berth. On the opposite facet of the court docket, Gauff seemed off-balance many of the match, unable to maintain up whereas taking part in mistake-riddled tennis.
Gauff had bother along with her serve for giant parts of the match, committing 11 double faults (19 total) within the third set alone. She additionally made 60 unforced errors, 22 within the deciding set.
Navarro has now crushed Gauff in back-to-back Grand Slam conferences. On July 7, she upset the defending U.S. Open champion (6-4, 6-3) in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
For Gauff, a near-year-long slump continues.
After shedding at Wimbledon, Gauff fell within the third spherical on the 2024 Paris Olympics in a controversial fashion, adopted by early exits within the Nationwide Financial institution Open, Cincinnati Open and now the U.S. Open. The 20-year-old has received just one match this 12 months, the ASB Traditional in January, boasting a 36-13 singles file.
Navarro’s star, in the meantime, continues to rise, as with Sunday’s end result she improved to 45-19 on the 12 months. Together with profitable the Hobart Worldwide title, the 23-year-old has superior to the quarterfinals or deeper in 11-of-21 tournaments this 12 months.
Navarro will match up in opposition to No. 26 Paula Badosa on Sept. 3 for the appropriate to play within the U.S. Open semifinals.