Coco Gauff will likely want to put the 2024 U.S. Open behind her quickly following a disappointing performance. The reigning champion was eliminated in the Round of 16 on Sunday, losing to fellow American Emma Navarro with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Navarro dominated the first set, while the second set required back-and-forth effort from both players. With the score tied at three, Navarro broke Gauff’s serve to gain a 4-3 advantage, putting Gauff in a precarious position. However, Gauff responded by breaking Navarro’s serve, taking a 5-4 lead and ultimately pushing the match into a deciding third set.
Although Gauff took the first game of the final set, Navarro quickly regained control, winning the next three games. The players continued to exchange victories, setting Navarro up at 5-3 with Gauff serving. Unfortunately for the defending champion, she committed three double faults in that game, which allowed Navarro to secure her spot in the quarterfinals.
Gauff recorded a total of 19 double faults during the match, with 11 occurring in the final set alone. Following her last double fault, she tossed her racket in frustration.
This marks Gauff’s second consecutive early exit in a grand slam after reaching the semifinals in her previous three appearances. It also continues a trend where no reigning champion has reached the quarterfinals for six years, with the last semifinal appearance by a defending champion being Serena Williams in 2015.
Navarro will face Paula Badosa from Spain in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. This match will mark Navarro’s second consecutive appearance in this round during what has become a remarkable year for the 23-year-old, who had previously never advanced beyond the second round in any grand slam until this season. She has now reached at least the Round of 16 in every grand slam this year, with her best result, a quarterfinal finish, occurring at Wimbledon in July.