Coco Gauff’s hopes of launching one other deep run at a Grand Slam ended within the first spherical on the US Open on Monday, with the US teenager succumbing in three units to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. Gauff, who created a sensation at Wimbledon final 12 months when she turned the youngest player in the tournament’s history to qualify for the main draw earlier than reaching the fourth spherical, was crushed 6-Three, 5-7, 6-Four. The 16-year-old former junior world primary from Delray Seaside had battled again to degree the match in opposition to the 31st-seeded Sevastova after dropping the primary set.
However after squaring the match by taking the ultimate three video games of the second set to win it 7-5, Gauff was quickly scrambling to avoid wasting the match within the third set.
Though Gauff saved three match factors, Sevastova finally closed out the win, changing her fourth match level.
It was a disappointing exit for Gauff, who backed up her fairytale Wimbledon marketing campaign final 12 months by reaching the third spherical on the US Open earlier than one other respectable displaying on the Australian Open in January, the place she exited within the fourth spherical.
Gauff, a fan favorite at earlier Grand Slam appearances, stated afterwards she didn’t assume the absence of spectators in New York had hampered her efficiency.
“I feel I compete simply as laborious with followers or not,” she stated. “I may have performed higher immediately. Simply going to get again to work and prepare for the French Open.”
Nevertheless acknowledged that restricted taking part in alternatives in 2020 as a result of a tennis calendar upended by COVID-19, had impacted her growth.
“The primary half that damage was simply getting matches below my belt, getting expertise,” Gauff stated when requested to evaluate the influence of the coronavirus disruption.
“That is what I want on tour. I am taking part in in opposition to individuals older than me who’ve been in additional conditions, tough conditions, than I’ve. I feel the largest factor is I simply want expertise.
“Proper now my plan is simply to play as many tournaments as I can, to get matches below my belt. I am nonetheless in doubles right here, so I will be right here hopefully until the tip. That is the objective.”
Promoted
Gauff’s long-term ambitions additionally embody profitable qualification to play at subsequent 12 months’s Tokyo Olympics.
“Positively a objective of mine to qualify,” Gauff stated. “Proper now I am simply targeted on the match forward, simply specializing in the second now. However clearly that is a objective, to qualify for the Olympics subsequent 12 months.”
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