Coco Gauff's quest for a gold medal came to an emotional end on Tuesday as the No. 2 seed was defeated by Croatia’s Donna Vekic, with a score of 7-6, 6-2.
Gauff started the match confidently, establishing an early lead in the first set after Vekic hit a forehand into the net, giving Gauff a two-break advantage. However, Vekic quickly found her rhythm, pushing the set to a tiebreak where she showcased her powerful forehand, landing 11 winners to take the tiebreak and the first set.
The second set proved challenging for Gauff. At 3-2, 30-40, during her service game, a controversial line call occurred when a line judge initially called Vekic's shot "out" just as Gauff was about to hit the ball. After Gauff made contact, the chair umpire reversed the call, ruling Vekic's shot in and Gauff's return a fault, resulting in a break for Vekic.
Gauff approached the chair umpire to contest the decision, expressing her frustration: “You called the ball out before I even hit the ball.” The chair umpire's response, “That doesn’t matter,” only fueled Gauff's emotions. As the ITF tournament referee, Clare Wood, came onto the court, Gauff voiced her feelings of being unfairly treated, stating, “I feel like I’ve been cheated on constantly,” with tears in her eyes. She added, “I hope one day the game becomes fair because it’s not.”
As Vekic began her next service game, she faced audible jeers from the crowd, to which she responded, “I did nothing wrong.” Following the controversial call, Gauff struggled to regain her composure and ultimately lost the second set, ending her gold medal aspirations.
In her post-match interview, Gauff expressed her belief that video review could have helped resolve the line call issue. “There’s been multiple times this year where that happened to me, where I feel like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court,” she said. “I feel like in tennis, we should have a VR (video review) system because these points are big deals.”
While acknowledging that one point may not have determined the match's outcome, Gauff emphasized the importance of fairness in the game. Despite her singles defeat, she is now focused on her upcoming mixed doubles match with partner Taylor Fritz. “It’s exciting,” Gauff said about the match. “I’m trying to do my best to mentally reset and get ready for mixed doubles. (A medal) is the main goal.” Themixed doubles match represents a new opportunity for Gauff to showcase her skills alongside Fritz. The duo has been training hard and is eager to bring their best game to the court. Gauff expressed her enthusiasm for teaming up with Fritz, noting their complementary playing styles and strong communication.
As they prepare for the match, Gauff is determined to put her singles loss behind her and focus on the task at hand. “Every match is a new chance,” she said. “I’m looking forward to playing with Taylor and hopefully bringing home a medal.” The mixed doubles event not only offers a chance for redemption but also allows Gauff to enjoy the camaraderie of playing alongside a fellow American.
With the tournament heating up, fans are excited to see how Gauff and Fritz will perform together. Their chemistry on the court could be a key factor in their success, and both players are ready to give it their all. As they gear up for their match, Gauff remains optimistic and motivated, ready to make a mark in the mixed doubles competition.
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