Coco Gauff knocked out of Australian Open in controversial match
Tennis’ teen titan Coco Gauff has been knocked out of the Australian Open by countrywoman Sofia Kenin in a wild match that saw the pro-teenage crowd overstep the mark on several occasions.
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The stunning run of teenage star Coco Gauff has come to an end at the Australian Open, but the young star says she still has a long way to go to get to her peak.
The 15-year-old American prodigy was dispatched from the fourth round by her countrywoman Sofia Kenin in three sets on Melbourne Arena 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 0-6.
It has been an eye-catching charge from Gauff in her first Australian Open campaign, claiming the scalp of defending champion and No. 3 seed Naomi Osaka in a third-round straight sets victory.
But after a tight first-set battle today, Gauff was unable to match the performance of No. 14 seed Kenin, who progresses to her first ever Grand Slam quarter-final.
While she admitted she was doing well “at 15”, Gauff said there was much more improvement ahead.
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“I had a great tournament. I'm looking forward for doubles tomorrow,” Gauff said.
“I was disappointed I lost obviously. But I don't really think anything of Naomi (win) or my previous matches had anything to do (with it). I think naturally when I lose, I'm just a bit emotional.
“My short-term goal is to improve. I mean, that's the main thing. I'm doing well right now at 15.
“I still have so much I feel like I can get better on. Even my parents, my team, they all believe I can get better.
“I don't even think this is close to a peak for me, even though I'm doing well right now. “
Gauff burst to prominence last year when she became the youngest ever woman to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon, making an impressive charge to the fourth round. The Florida native followed that with a third-round appearance at the US Open.
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Gauff’s performance in Melbourne has prompted social media fun asking “What were you doing at 15?” and there was plenty of hype around her fourth-round match ahead of a potential quarter-final.
But Kenin said she did her best to block it all out and didn’t begrudge the focus on the teenager.
“She's 15 … she has a lot of hype. She has a big name,” Gauff said.
“Obviously she's playing well. I just tried not to let that get the better of me, just try to take it like any other match, focus on myself, focus on my game, grind it out basically.
“I'm happy she's doing well. We're all supporting each other. I try not to let that get in my head. I try just to block it all out, do what I do best.”
At one point, a fans yelled out “shut up d***head” during Kenin’s service motion.
Despite that, the 21-year-old said was thrilled to make it to the quarter-finals where she will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who defeated China’s Wang Qiang in straight sets.
“It was funny, after the match, we're both biking next to each other. She's like, ‘Good job’. I'm, like, ‘You, too’,” Kenin said.
“It was a funny moment. She's, like, ‘Are you feeling tired?’ (I said) ‘No, I'm good’. She's, like, ‘Yeah, me, too’. I'm, like,’ Okay. I'll see you on Tuesday then’.”
The unseeded Jabeur won her way through to her first Grand Slam quarter-final after a straight sets victory over China’s Wang Qiang, who ended Serena Williams’ tournament, 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.
Jabeur, whose best result at a major previously was a third-round appearance at the French Open in 2017, was looking forward to her next challenge.
“Sofia is a really good player, a tough one. She is a fighter so it is going to be an interesting match,” the 25-year-old said.
“Last time she won against me so maybe now it is my revenge.”
‘SHARING THE COURT WITH ASH IS A PLEASURE’
Dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has praised the manner Australia’s Ash Barty has handled the pressure of her home Grand Slam, saying she deserves to be the world No.1.
After storming into the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the fourth time in her career, Kvitova defied a curse among the women’s top seeds with a three-set win on Rod Laver Arena.
The No.7 seed, who lost to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in last year’s Australian Open final, fought back from a set down to defeat the No.22 seed from Greece, Maria Sakkari 6-7 6-3 6-2.
Kvitova faces a possible quarter-final showdown with Barty, if the Australian triumphed in her fourth-round clash against American Alison Riske.
Regardless, Barty has already done plenty to impress Kvitova.
“I think Ash is great. She has to have such a big pressure on her. She’s dealing with it like probably nobody else,” Kvitova said.
“That’s really something why she is deserving to be No.1 and (have) won a Grand Slam.
“Sharing court with her, it’s always a pleasure. Doesn’t matter what the score will be but will be nice.
“Ash obviously we have played many times. We played here last year in the quarters. I like her. She’s a great person. (It) will be a great matchup if we play.”
Kvitova said she was not getting excited about the number of top women’s seeds that have already excited the tournament, including defending champion Osaka and Serena Williams.
“I think it’s more exciting for you guys,” Kvitova told the media after the game.
“Not really for me. I don’t really care. Of course I know that some of them lost, but that’s the tennis.
“That’s the sport. We see how the tennis is open, every week probably we see it. On the one hand, it’s surprise. On the other hand it’s not really that surprising.
“Yeah. It’s not that exciting for me, anyway.”
The Greek fans were in full voice in the crowd supporting Sakkari during the match, but Kvitova said they had not been a distraction for her.
“Actually when I was shaking the hand with the umpire, I told him it was like a soccer match today,” Kvitova said.
“I mean, it’s nice on one side. On the other side, it’s the tennis, and it’s not a Fed Cup.
“It’s strange. But, like, to me, it didn’t bother me at all.
“It didn’t fire me up. I think my box fired me up.”
Originally published as Coco Gauff knocked out of Australian Open in controversial match
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