‘Not cool’: Coco Gauff crashed out of US Open after by kids’ move

Defending US Open champion Coco Gauff crashed out of the tournament in brutal circumstances but not before a cruel blow.

Defending US Open champion Coco Gauff crashed out of the tournament in a fourth round exit at the hands of American compatriot Emma Navarro after a nightmare 6-3 4-6 6-3 loss.

While a three-set loss in the fourth round is nothing to be ashamed of for the 20-year-old world No. 3, the scoreline only tells half the story.

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It was a serving horror show for the rising superstar as the 13th seed took full advantage of a brutal display from Gauff.

Gauff will drop to at least sixth in the world after serving 19 double faults and making 60 unforced errors to Navarro’s 35.

It was such a brutal showing from Gauff, she actually had more double faults than winners, winning only 14 points off the racquet.

And it was the third set that was the worst for Gauff has her serve abandoned her as she sent down 11 double faults.

Gauff’s serve abandoned her. Photo: Luke Hales/Getty Images/AFP

So the last thing Gauff needed at 5-3 down in the third was a group of kids gathering at the bottom of the grandstand to get an autograph.

Needing to hold her serve and then break back to stay in the game, Gauff looked on in horror when the children grouped up in her eyesight to get an autograph.

Security guards generally allow children to gather at the bottom of the grandstand when a match is about to finish — which is not the mindset the 20-year-old needed.

“Coco’s a little unnerved,” Chris Fowler said in commentary.

“When you’re at the end of a match, the extras will let the kids come down with the giant tennis balls to sign, a signal that they believe this could end soon.

“Coco checks it out, just kind of stares them down, and walks off the line here. It’s not cool.”

Former world No. 1 Chris Evert was sighing over the drama, before saying: “No it’s not. And really, the guards should prevent that from happening.”

Security then stepped in to disperse the children but it seemed the damage had already been done.

Gauff served three double faults before conceding the match with an unforced forehand error to tumble out of the tournament.

It was not what Coco needed. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP

Gauff was devastated by the result, which continues a tough run of results.

At Wimbledon, Gauff was knocked out in the fourth round also at the hands of Navarro, followed by a third round exit at the Paris Olympics, second round loss at the Canadian Open, first round in Cincinnati and now being unable to defend her title at Flushing Meadows.

“It’s not the summer that I want,” Gauff said.

“But I feel like there’s 70 other players in the draw that would love to have the summer that I had even though it’s probably my least well done during this time of the year.

“So many people want to be in the fourth round. So many people want to make the Olympics. So many people want to be flag bearer. It’s perspective.”

Gauff was selected as a US flag-bearer alongside NBA legend LeBron James at the Paris Olympics, despite it being her first games.

Gauff said the service issues were “more of an emotional, mental thing”.

“Because if I go out on the practice court right now, I would make, like, 30 serves in a row. I’ve done it before,” she continued.

“I think it’s also just kind of a mental hurdle that I have to get over when it comes. But I definitely want to look at other things, because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore.”

Gauff congratulates Navarro. Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

Navarro will now play 26th seed Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals.

“I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane,” Navarro said.

“This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here. Coco is an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again.”

With AFP