By Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon campaign came to an abrupt end on Sunday as she fell to fellow American Emma Navarro in the fourth round. The 6-4, 6-3 defeat on Centre Court highlighted Gauff’s ongoing struggles at the All England Club, where she has yet to progress beyond the fourth round.
Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion and second seed, visibly struggled throughout the match. She frequently looked to her coaching box for guidance, particularly to Brad Gilbert, but was unable to find effective solutions on court. The 20-year-old later admitted, “We had a game plan going in, and I felt that it wasn’t working. I don’t always ask for advice from the box, but today was one of those rare moments where I felt I didn’t have solutions.”
Navarro, seeded 19th, capitalized on Gauff’s difficulties, particularly targeting her opponent’s forehand – a known weakness. The 23-year-old former NCAA champion showed composure and tactical acumen, building on her earlier upset of four-time major winner Naomi Osaka in the second round.
The match adds to a series of high-profile exits in the women’s draw at Wimbledon 2024. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, and defending champion Marketa Vondrousova have all departed the tournament, leaving only two of the top ten seeds remaining.
Gauff’s defeat was characterized by unforced errors, particularly on her forehand side. She committed 25 unforced errors to just 12 winners, with 32 of Navarro’s 61 points coming from Gauff’s forehand mistakes. The young American acknowledged her inability to raise her level when needed, stating, “I have the ability to raise my level when players play well, and I feel I didn’t do that today.”
For Navarro, the victory marks her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. She reflected on her growing belief, saying, “I’m believing that this is possible as it’s happening. I’m starting to think, ‘Why not me? Why can’t I make a quarterfinal run? Why can’t I go deep in Grand Slams?'”
As Gauff reflects on another disappointing Wimbledon campaign, Navarro looks ahead to a quarterfinal clash with No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini. The upset serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tennis and the emerging talent in the women’s game.
This result adds another chapter to Wimbledon’s storied history of upsets and breakthrough performances, setting the stage for an intriguing second week at the All England Club.
AP
