Coco Gauff’s dreams of an Olympic medal turned to ashes on Tuesday morning, with the American falling to Croatian Donna Vekic in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.
The match was marred by a controversial call and exchange between Gauff — the 20-year-old who recently received the honor of being named Team USA’s flagbearer during opening ceremonies — and the match’s umpire.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Coco Gauff umpire argument, explained
After dropping the first set and falling behind 3-2 in the second set, Gauff attempted to fend off Vekic’s break point at 30-40. The Croatian fired an effort towards Gauff, who attempted to respond with a forehand return.
However, the linesperson ruled the ball to be out, prompting Gauff — already in full motion — to decelerate. She subsequently sent her effort into the net, believing the point to have been over.
Gauff appeared to have leveled things at 40 in her game. The chair umpire viewed things differently, though, overruling the linesperson’s decision and giving Vekic the point — her shot landed in — and the game.
That decision prompted the 20-year old to appeal the call, arguing that the linesperson's call affected Gauff's ability to complete her swing. She appeared to cry while talking about the ordeal with the tournament supervisor.
"I feel like I’m getting cheated constantly in this game,” Gauff said in an extended conversation with the chair umpire and tourney supervisor.
“There have 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. I feel like in tennis, we should have a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system because these points are big deals. Usually, afterwards they apologize.
“It’s kind of frustrating when the sorry doesn’t help you once the match is over.”
“It’s not fair at all. You guys are not fair to me and I hope one day that the game becomes fair but it’s not,”
Huge argument in the Donna Vekic - Coco Gauff match. Umpire called the ball out before Gauff returned the ball and missed it in break point for Vekic. Ball was in. Coco Gauff crying and saying this always happens to me 😭 pic.twitter.com/Fv8zreC1hY
— edgeAI (@edgeaiofficial) July 30, 2024
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Once the match resumed, Gauff took a 0-40 lead on Vekic’s serve. But she crumbled down the stretch, surrendering her sizable lead to drop a fifth game in the set.
Vekic put things away shortly thereafter, etching her spot in the tournament’s fourth round in the process.
Gauff's hopes for individual gold vanished amid controversy on Tuesday. She still has a chance to get a medal around her neck in doubles, however. She'll return to the court on Tuesday alongside fellow American Jessica Pegula.
