After a horrendous performance against Emma Navarro, the defending champion Coco Gauff was eliminated from the US Open 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Horribly, Gauff committed 19 double faults compared to 14 winners. After Wimbledon, this is the second Grand Slam in a row that Gauff has fallen short against Navarro.
This was a scrappy contest and a difficult watch at times. Navarro will not win many matches in which she hit 20 winners and 35 unforced errors; those are bad numbers but Gauff’s were catastrophic: 14 winners and 60 unforced errors.
Speaking on ESPN commentary, six-time US Open champion Chrissie Evert stated she had never seen Gauff play so badly. When asked if she would think about consulting with a biomechanics coach to help with her serve motion, as Aryna Sabalenka recently did so successfully, Gauff said, “Yes, without a doubt.” Though I think it’s sometimes more of an emotional, mental issue—I would serve 30 times in a row if I went out on the practice court right now—I still want to hear other people’s perspectives. Before, I’ve done it.
It’s kind of a mental hurdle that I have to get over. But, yeah, I definitely want to look at other things because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore.’
Navarro, born right here in New York City, will continue her campaign against Spaniard Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
As for Gauff, a barren year in the majors is over and she simply has to improve her second serve if she is to return to the winners’ circle. Coming into this match she led the tour in double faults this season, with 296.
This match took her well over 300. Among the rest of the top eight players in the world, no one has hit more than 200 doubles this year and only Sabalenka has more than 150.
