Coco Gauff was defeated in straight sets by Emma Navarro in the fourth round at Wimbledon, marking her exit at this stage of the tournament once again. The match took place at Centre Court, where Gauff looked to her guest box for help but couldn’t find a solution. Despite her efforts and the input from her coach Brad Gilbert, Gauff lost 6-4, 6-3 in the all-American matchup.
Gauff, the reigning US Open champion and No. 2 seed, admitted she needed more direction during the game. “We had a game plan going in, and I felt that it wasn’t working. I don’t always ask for advice from the box, but today was one of those moments where I felt like I didn’t have solutions,” she said.
This match added to a series of exits by top women players from the Wimbledon bracket this year, including No. 1 Iga Swiatek, No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, and No. 6 Marketa Vondrousova. Only two of the top 10 seeds remain: 2022 champion Elena Rybakina (No. 4) and recent French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini (No. 7). Paolini is set to face Navarro next, while Rybakina will play her fourth-round match on Monday.
Navarro, who showed her capabilities by defeating four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in the second round, expressed her satisfaction with her performance. “I played really aggressively. Coco’s obviously an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her and what she’s done at such a young age is really amazing,” Navarro said after reaching the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam for the first time.
Gauff’s run at Wimbledon has seen her reach at least the fourth round multiple times, including a standout performance at age 15 when she beat Venus Williams in the first round. But despite her previous successes, Gauff struggled in this match, making 25 unforced errors and numerous forehand mistakes that Navarro capitalized on.
Reflecting on the defeat, Gauff said, “I have the ability to raise my level when players play well, and I feel I didn’t do that today.” She acknowledged the struggle to find rhythm and communication with her coaches, ultimately taking responsibility for the loss. “It’s no one’s fault but me. I’m the player out there,” she concluded.