Coco Gauff’s title defense at the US Open came to a surprising halt on Sunday, as she was defeated by 13th seed Emma Navarro with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-4, 3-6.
The reigning champion struggled significantly with her serve and forehand, recording an alarming 19 double faults. Despite showcasing impressive grit to force a three-set decider, Gauff ultimately succumbed to her fellow American in a thrilling match in New York.
Navarro, advancing to her second Grand Slam quarter-final and first-ever at the US Open, dominated the opening set and maintained pressure in the second. However, nerves set in for Navarro as Gauff rallied to win three consecutive games, pushing the match into a deciding set.
In the final set, Gauff’s serve faltered, and Navarro seized the opportunity, breaking twice to seal a remarkable victory. “I lost in the first round the last two years, and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane,” Navarro expressed after her win, highlighting the significance of competing in her hometown.
Acknowledging Gauff’s talent, Navarro stated, “Coco Gauff is an amazing player, I have a ton of respect for her, and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again one year.”
Navarro will next face 26th seed Paula Badosa, who advanced by defeating Yafan Wang of China 6-1, 6-2. Badosa’s journey has been remarkable, especially after contemplating retirement due to injury struggles. “To be back at this level is a dream come true,” she remarked.
In other matches, Grigor Dimitrov battled past sixth seed Andrey Rublev with a final score of 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3. This victory marks Dimitrov’s return to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2019. He expressed gratitude, stating that winning the second set played a crucial role in regaining his confidence.
As the tournament progresses, Taylor Fritz also battled back from a tough start to emerge victorious against eighth seed Casper Ruud, winning the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, securing his spot in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year.
With the competition heating up at the US Open, fans can look forward to an exciting week ahead as top players vie for the coveted title.
