Coco Gauff’s aspirations of capturing her first Australian Open title ended abruptly on Tuesday, as she succumbed to Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. The match, lasting just 59 minutes, saw Gauff struggle to replicate her earlier strong performances in Melbourne and culminated in a straight sets defeat of 6-1, 6-2.
Having been touted as a favorite to secure her third Grand Slam title, Gauff faced a challenging battle against Svitolina, who demonstrated remarkable form throughout the tournament. The sweltering conditions at Rod Laver Arena only added to the difficulty for Gauff, who was unable to find her rhythm. Svitolina took full advantage of Gauff’s uncharacteristic errors, allowing her to advance to the semifinals against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Post-match, an evidently frustrated Gauff was captured on camera smashing her racket against a concrete ramp while exiting the court—a moment she had hoped would remain private. Reflecting on the incident, she expressed her discomfort with breaking rackets, stating, “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.”
Gauff’s serving performance was particularly troubling, as she committed five double faults in the first set alone, leading to breaks in four service games. While her service game improved in the second set, she still racked up 12 unforced errors, which further dashed her hopes for a comeback.
“I just felt like all the things I do well, I just wasn’t doing well today,” Gauff remarked, acknowledging Svitolina’s skillful play. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging her frustrations, noting, “Instead of lashing out at my team, I prefer to let out my emotions in a controlled manner. They don’t deserve my frustration. They did their best; I did mine.”
Despite the crushing defeat, Gauff’s candid reflection on her emotions shows a strong understanding of the mental side of the sport. This experience, while disappointing, can serve as an important learning opportunity as she continues her journey in professional tennis. Gauff remains a promising talent, and her resilience and willingness to express her feelings may ultimately contribute to her growth in future tournaments.