Coco Gauff, along with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, fell out of the US Open as the defending champion lost to Emma Navarro in a series of errors.
On a brighter note for US fans, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz advanced to the men’s quarterfinals, sparking hopes of a first American Grand Slam winner since Andy Roddick’s 2003 victory in New York.
Third-ranked Coco Gauff suffered a surprising exit from the US Open, falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to her American compatriot, Emma Navarro, in the fourth round. Gauff struggled throughout the match, particularly with her serve, committing 19 double faults—equal to her total from the first three rounds combined—and making 60 unforced errors. Her performance was marred by these mistakes, which proved costly against Navarro.
Gauff’s loss means Serena Williams remains the last woman to successfully defend the US Open title, a feat she accomplished in 2014. Despite Gauff’s early exit, Navarro expressed her excitement at advancing to the quarterfinals after previously being eliminated in the first round for the past two years. Navarro will now face Paula Badosa of Spain in a bid for a spot in the semifinals.
The defeat of Gauff adds to a series of disappointments at this year’s US Open. Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the third round, marking his earliest exit from the tournament in 18 years. Djokovic’s departure further highlighted the challenging nature of this year’s tournament.
Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022 and is also the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, was unexpectedly ousted in the second round. These high-profile exits have cast a shadow over the final Grand Slam of the season, leaving fans and players alike reflecting on a turbulent tournament.
“I gave it my all,” Gauff said. “There were definitely moments where I wished I had executed better, especially with my serve. I believe if I had performed better in that aspect, the outcome might have been different.”
