Coco Gauff's U.S. Open title defence ended in a 6-3 4-6 6-3 loss to fellow American Emma Navarro in the fourth round on Sunday (Sep 1), the reigning women's champion becoming the latest big name to make an early exit at Flushing Meadows this year. Gauff had been looking to avenge her fourth-round loss at this year's Wimbledon but Navarro stunned the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium with an aggressive all-round display to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. Third seed Gauff fought her way back into the match after going a set down but ultimately 19 doubles faults and 60 unforced errors meant her first defence of a Grand Slam title was destined to end in disappointment.
Coco Gauff's US Open title defence is over after she was beaten by Emma Navarro in the fourth round in New York. Third seed Gauff produced a disjointed performance to lose 6-3 4-6 6-3 to fellow American and 13th seed Navarro. Gauff hit 19 double faults – including 11 in the third set alone – and produced three in the final game of the match to hand Navarro victory.
"I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane," said Navarro. "This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here."
Gauff was comprehensively beaten by Navarro just two months ago in the last 16 at Wimbledon.
She said she would need to maintain her focus after "collapsing" mentally in their previous meeting – but frailties on serve, including three back-to-back double faults in the third set, and 60 unforced errors helped Navarro reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
Navarro will go on to play 26th seed Paula Badosa in the last eight after the Spaniard thrashed China’s Wang Yafan 6-1 6-2 earlier on Sunday.
"Coco is an amazing player," Navarro added. "I have a ton of respect for her and I know she's going to come back here and win this thing again."
Navarro’s victory ends Gauff’s bid to become the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.
It also makes the 23-year-old the youngest American woman to reach the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same year since Williams in 2004.
