Coco Gauff’s 2024 U.S. Open experience is one she will likely want to forget quickly. The defending champion was eliminated in the Round of 16 on Sunday afternoon, falling to fellow American Emma Navarro with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Navarro established control in the first set, while the second set featured a seesaw battle. The score was tied at three when Navarro broke Gauff’s serve to take a 4-3 lead, putting Gauff under pressure. However, Gauff responded by breaking Navarro’s serve, winning the next game to lead 5-4, and then broke Navarro again to force a deciding third set.
Gauff started strong in the final set, winning the first game and seeming to gain momentum. This momentum was short-lived, as Navarro took the next three games. The two players continued to trade games, leading to a 5-3 advantage for Navarro as Gauff served. Gauff struggled, committing three double faults that aided Navarro’s advancement to the quarterfinals.
Gauff recorded a total of 19 double faults in the match, including 11 in the final set. After her last double fault, she expressed her frustration by throwing her racket down.
This defeat marks Gauff’s second consecutive Round of 16 exit in a grand slam tournament, after previously reaching the semifinals in her last three attempts. Furthermore, it’s the sixth consecutive year that a reigning champion has failed to reach the quarterfinals, with the last to do so being Serena Williams in 2015.
Navarro will face Spain’s Paula Badosa on Tuesday for her second consecutive quarterfinal appearance in what has been a remarkable year for the 23-year-old, who had never advanced beyond the second round of a grand slam until this season. She has reached at least the Round of 16 in every grand slam this year, with her best result being the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July.