Defending Champion Coco Gauff Eliminated from US Open by Emma Navarro

In a surprising turn of events at the US Open, defending champion Coco Gauff has been defeated in the fourth round by fellow American Emma Navarro. The match concluded with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, marking a disappointing exit for Gauff, who struggled significantly during the match.

Seeded No. 3, Gauff came into the tournament on a winning streak of ten consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows, including her path to victory for her first Grand Slam title last year. Although she had demonstrated resilience in previous matches, coming back after losing the opening set, she was unable to replicate that performance against Navarro.

During the match, Gauff exhibited signs of inconsistency, with her double-fault count topping 19 in stark contrast to her 14 winners. She briefly regained momentum with a strong push in the middle of the match, seizing the second set after winning 14 of 17 points. However, she couldn’t maintain that energy into the third set.

In her efforts to improve her serve, Gauff had returned to the practice courts following her prior matches, but those adjustments did not translate well in this contest. She recorded multiple double-faults across her service games, notably at pivotal moments, including two key games lost at 1-all in both the first and third sets. A staggering eleven of her double-faults occurred in the final set alone.

Moreover, Gauff’s match featured a high total of 60 unforced errors, with her forehand proving problematic as she committed 29 errors from that side—a clear indication of her struggle during the match. In contrast, Navarro played a steadier game, finishing with 35 unforced errors.

This unexpected outcome continues a trend of upsets in the tournament, as it follows the surprising third-round loss of defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic. With both defending champions eliminated early, the US Open will once again witness a year without consecutive titleholders. The last woman to achieve back-to-back victories was Serena Williams, who won three titles from 2012 to 2014. On the men’s side, Roger Federer’s five consecutive wins from 2004 to 2008 remain unmatched.

Emma Navarro’s victory over Gauff not only sends her through to the quarterfinals but also marks her second major quarterfinal appearance, following her Wimbledon triumph over Gauff in July. She is now set to face No. 26 Paula Badosa, who had a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Wang Yafan in her match.

As the tournament progresses, fans are left speculating about potential upsets and the showdown of new talents. Gauff’s defeat serves as a reminder of the fierce competition present at the top levels of tennis and the unpredictability that characterizes the sport.