New shell at US Open – defending champion Gauff knocked out
Last year’s US Open winner Coco Gauff’s dreams of a new title in New York were shattered when she lost her fourth-round duel against Emma Navarro on Monday night Norwegian time.
World number three Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final but, chasing a second career Grand Slam title, the 20-year-old American was defeated by Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 3-6.
– I gave everything I had, but obviously there are things I could have done better. I wish I could have served better. Then I think it would have been a different story, Gauff said after the defeat.
Navarro, for his part, has broken through some barriers on the hard courts in New York. Before this year’s tournament, the 23-year-old had never advanced beyond the first round. Now he’s ready for the quarterfinals. He also got that far at Wimbledon in July.
Gauff’s exit means Serena Williams remains the last woman to successfully defend her US Open title. She did so in 2014.
Gauff joins a growing list of big names who have left the tournament early in New York. In the men’s division, both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have retired. The same goes for Casper Ruud, Holger Rune and Andrej Rublev. (NTB)
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