In a shocking turn of events at the 2024 US Open, defending champion Coco Gauff has been eliminated in the fourth round by fellow American Emma Navarro. The match, which ended with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, saw Gauff struggle significantly with her serve, committing a staggering 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors.Gauff attributed her poor performance to a combination of mechanical and mental issues, as well as her grueling summer schedule, which included playing at the Paris Olympics. ‘Mentally and emotionally, I gave it my all… Of course, there were things execution-wise, obviously I wish I could serve better,’ Gauff said after the match.This loss not only ends Gauff’s title defense but will also result in her dropping out of the WTA’s top five rankings, as she loses 2,000 points as the reigning champion. It also continues the streak of no player successfully defending their US Open title in New York since Serena Williams won three consecutive championships between 2012-2014.Navarro, who was seeded 13th, showed remarkable composure throughout the match. ‘It’s pretty insane to be making the quarterfinals after losing in the first round the last two years,’ Navarro commented after her victory. She will now face Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals.In other US Open news, several American players have advanced to the quarterfinals. Taylor Fritz defeated No. 8 seed Casper Ruud in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 upset victory. Frances Tiafoe also moved forward after a tough four-set battle against Alexei Popyrin. On the men’s side, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov have also secured spots in the quarterfinals.As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining players vying for the coveted US Open title, with the absence of both last year’s champions adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Key points
- Defending champion Coco Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round of the US Open by Emma Navarro.
- Gauff’s loss will result in her dropping out of the WTA’s top five rankings.
- Several American players, including Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, have advanced to the quarterfinals.
