Unfortunately, Coco Gauff’s quest for an Olympic medal came to an end on Tuesday morning as she was defeated by Croatian Donna Vekic in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
The match was overshadowed by a contentious call and altercation between Gauff, the 20-year-old who recently had the honor of carrying the flag for Team USA during the opening ceremonies, and the match’s umpire.
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Coco Gauff’s Dispute with the Umpire, Explained
After losing the first set and trailing 3-2 in the second set, Gauff tried to defend against Vekic’s break point at 30-40. When Vekic hit a shot towards Gauff, she attempted to return it with a forehand.
However, the linesperson called the ball out, causing Gauff to slow down as she thought the point was over. Consequently, she hit her shot into the net, assuming that the point had already ended.
Gauff seemed to have evened the score at 40 in her favor. However, the chair umpire disagreed, overturning the linesperson’s call and awarding the point to Vekic since her shot was in, thus giving her the game.
This ruling led Gauff to challenge the decision, arguing that the linesperson’s call interfered with her ability to complete her swing. She was visibly upset and even shed tears while discussing the matter with the tournament supervisor.
“I feel like I’m constantly being treated unfairly in this sport,” Gauff expressed during a lengthy conversation with the chair umpire and tournament supervisor.
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Following the dispute, Gauff managed to take a 0-40 lead on Vekic’s serve. However, she faltered towards the end, relinquishing her lead and ultimately losing the fifth game of the set.
Vekic then sealed the victory shortly after, securing her spot in the tournament’s fourth round.
Although Gauff’s individual gold medal aspirations were dashed amidst the controversy, she still has a chance to win a medal in doubles. She is scheduled to compete alongside fellow American Jessica Pegula later on Tuesday.