Coco Gauff’s Olympic Singles Dream Ends in Defeat to Donna Vekic

American tennis star Coco Gauff’s quest for singles gold at the Paris Olympics came to a premature end on Tuesday. Gauff, the second seed, was defeated by Croatia’s Donna Vekic with scores of 7-6(7), 6-2 in searing conditions at Roland Garros.

Match Summary and Controversy

Gauff, 20, initially led 5-2 in the first set but saw her advantage slip away as Vekic, the 13th seed, mounted a comeback with impressive claycourt play. Vekic saved two set points during a tense tiebreak and ultimately secured the win, becoming the first Croatian to reach the Olympic women’s singles quarter-finals since Iva Majoli in 1996.

The match was marred by controversy as Gauff was visibly upset by an overruled line call. She argued that the initial “out” call disrupted her swing, but her protests were unsuccessful. Despite a supportive crowd, Gauff’s game faltered, and Vekic capitalized on the situation.

Gauff’s Reaction and Future Focus

Gauff expressed frustration over the line call but acknowledged that it was not the sole factor in her loss. “There have been multiple instances this year where I’ve had to advocate for myself on the court. I believe video review could help in such situations,” Gauff said. She now shifts her focus to mixed and women’s doubles.

Vekic’s Resilience and Next Steps

Vekic, who had previously experienced a tough loss to Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon, showed resilience in Paris. She described the atmosphere as one of the best she’s played in and expressed optimism for the upcoming matches. “The support has been incredible, and I’m excited to see how far I can go,” Vekic remarked.