Coco Gauff faced significant challenges at Centre Court against fellow American Emma Navarro, frequently seeking assistance from her coaches, particularly Brad Gilbert, without finding a solution. As a result, Gauff exited Wimbledon in the fourth round once again, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Navarro.
Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion and the No. 2 seed at Wimbledon, voiced her frustration post-match, mentioning mental turmoil and seeking direction from her coaching team. This exit continues her pattern of not advancing past the fourth round at Wimbledon.
This loss adds to a string of top women’s eliminations at Wimbledon this year. No. 1 Iga Swiatek lost on Saturday, No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka withdrew due to a shoulder injury, and No. 6 Marketa Vondrousova, last year’s champion, was defeated in the first round. Only two of the top 10 seeds remain: No. 4 Elena Rybakina and No. 7 Jasmine Paolini. While Rybakina is set for her fourth-round match on Monday, Paolini advanced on Sunday after Madison Keys retired due to injury.
Navarro, the 19th seed, achieved her first major quarterfinal, defeating Naomi Osaka in the second round. Reflecting on her progress, Navarro expressed growing belief in her potential to make deep runs in Grand Slam tournaments. The 23-year-old South Carolina native showcased her potential, noting her confidence boost from noticing Gauff’s frustrations during their match.
Despite Gauff’s previous successes, including a U.S. Open title and reaching the French Open final and Australian Open semifinals, Wimbledon remains a challenge. Her breakthrough came at 15 when she defeated Venus Williams, but she has not progressed further than the fourth round since.
During Sunday’s match, Gauff struggled with numerous unforced errors, especially with her forehand, a known vulnerability. Navarro exploited this weakness, which contributed significantly to her victory.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff acknowledged her failure to raise her level of play and the lack of synchronization with her coaching team, taking full responsibility for the outcome.