Coco Gauff’s US Open title defense ended abruptly in the fourth round, falling to Emma Navarro in a rematch of their Wimbledon encounter. Despite her disappointing summer, Gauff remains optimistic, acknowledging the achievements she has made and the challenges she faces.
Last year, Gauff arrived at the US Open with momentum from her breakthrough performances on North American hard courts. This year, however, she has struggled to find her footing, exiting in the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the US Open.
After her loss to Navarro, Gauff praised her opponent’s all-court ability and her own mental improvement since their Wimbledon match. She also reflected on her summer, acknowledging that it has not met her expectations but that she is grateful for the opportunities she has had.
“I feel like there’s 70 other players in the draw that would love to have the summer that I had, even though it’s… probably the (worst I’ve) done during this time of the year,” Gauff said. “So many people want to be in the fourth round. So many people want to make the Olympics. So many people want to be flag bearer. It’s perspective.”
Gauff’s summer included a fourth-round appearance at the French Open, a quarterfinal finish at the Olympics, and a flag-bearing role for Team USA. Despite these accomplishments, she is determined to improve her game and reach a higher level.
“Obviously because I’m wanting to reach a different level, it is disappointing, but I’m not going to beat myself up and be, like, this was so bad,” Gauff said. “Yeah, I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.”
Gauff’s next goal is to qualify for the WTA Finals. She plans to address the mechanical and technical flaws in her game, including her serve, which has been a liability in recent matches.
“Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all,” Gauff reflected. “Of course, there were things execution-wise… like, obviously I wish I could serve better. I think if I would have did that, it would have been a different story for me in the match.”
