Defending champion Coco Gauff crashed out of the US Open after a nightmare performance against Emma Navarro, losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Unfortunately, Gauff committed more double faults (19) than winners (14).
This is the second consecutive Grand Slam, after Wimbledon, in which Gauff has lost to Navarro.
It was a close match and difficult to watch at times. Navarro won’t win many matches in which she has hit 20 winners and 35 unforced errors; those are bad numbers, but Gauff’s were catastrophic: 14 winners and 60 unforced errors.
Navarro, born right here in New York City, will continue her campaign against Spain’s Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
As for Gauff, a barren year at the majors is over and she simply needs to improve her second serve if she wants to get back into the winner’s circle. Before this match, she led the tour in double faults this season, with 296.
Defending champion Coco Gauff out of US Open after nightmare performance
Gauff lost to Emma Navarro, who also caused her exit from Wimbledon.
In this match, she hit more than 300. Among the rest of the top eight players in the world, no one has hit more than 200 doubles this year and only Aryna Sabalenka has more than 150.
There appears to be a lack of fluidity in Gauff’s service action, a fractional pause after the toss that allows the ball to drop and causes her to collapse in motion, rather than propel herself upward.
At 2-3 in the first set, Gauff hit back-to-back double faults from 15-30 and got the break. Another double fault at 3-3 in the second set gave Navarro a break point and she hit a forehand winner down the line.
Gauff responded superbly, winning 14 of the next 16 points. But once again, with the score at 1-1 in the deciding set, she committed three double faults in four points and went a break down.
Navarro emerged victorious on Sunday when Gauff lost the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Gauff committed more double faults (19) than winners (14) in her disappointing performance.
Navarro will face Paula Badosa in the US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday
A second Gauff comeback was not to be as Navarro remained calm and held serve.
Navarro is three years older than Gauff (23), but in terms of tennis she has far less experience. While Gauff made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon at age 15, this is only Navarro’s second season on the WTA tour. She played college tennis for the Virginia Cavaliers, where she won the NCAA singles title in 2021.
His rise through the rankings has been rapid and he possesses a wonderfully complete and versatile game. Navarro appears to have an excellent temperament and a high tennis IQ.
She also appears to have a clear advantage in this matchup and that spells trouble for Gauff in the years to come.