Coco Gauff’s Emotional Breakdown Amid Paris Olympics Defeat

PARIS, France — Coco Gauff was left in tears after a heated dispute with the chair umpire during her 7-6 (7), 6-2 loss to Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the third round of the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Trailing in the match, Gauff became embroiled in the argument two games from the end. The catalyst was a contentious call regarding a return shot by Vekic. Initially called out by a line judge, the chair umpire, Jaume Campistol, overruled the decision, awarding Vekic the point, thus escalating the tension on the court.

An emotional Gauff pled her case passionately to Campistol, delaying play for several minutes. “I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball,” Gauff contended. Despite her protest, the match continued under a cloud of controversy.

The young American, seeded second in Paris, started strong but struggled as the match progressed. The hottest day of the Summer Games, with temperatures surpassing 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), added to the challenge. Even before the dispute, Gauff struggled to maintain her early momentum against Vekic, who recently made it to the Wimbledon semifinals.

Gauff initially led 4-1 in the first set and had opportunities to secure it. However, Vekic capitalized on her chances, showcasing her dominance by amassing 33 winners compared to Gauff’s nine. The American’s frustration was palpable as she lost crucial points, unable to close out the set.

The chair umpire’s call reignited old frustrations for Gauff. Her grievances were not new; similar incidents occurred during the French Open semifinals against Iga Swiatek. Then, as now, her appeals fell on deaf ears, compelling her to question tennis’s lack of video replay technology.

“It always happens here at the French Open to me. Every time,” Gauff lamented, referring to the recurrent disputes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

While Vekic stayed composed, focusing on her game, the spectators voiced their discontent. As Gauff resumed play, the crowd’s boos echoed their support for her and disapproval of the umpire’s decision.

Despite a brief rally that garnered enthusiastic cheers, the match concluded just ten minutes later, marking an emotional defeat for Gauff.