Coco Gauff’s quest for an Olympic medal came to an abrupt end as she lost to Croatia’s Donna Vekić in the third round at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite an early lead in the first set, Gauff was unable to maintain her advantage, eventually losing 7-6(7), 6-2. This defeat marked the first time in the tournament that Gauff had dropped a set.
The match took a contentious turn when Gauff got into a heated argument with the chair umpire over a controversial call. Gauff, visibly emotional, felt wronged by the decision, which she claimed was the third time she experienced such misfortune this year. Her dispute with the umpire appeared to affect her focus, contributing to her subsequent loss.
Gauff had shown promise earlier in the tournament with victories over Ajla Tomljanović and Maria Lourdes Carle, making her the youngest American woman to win an Olympic singles match since Venus Williams in 2000. Her Olympic journey was highlighted by her role as a flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony alongside LeBron James.
Meanwhile, Vekić advances to the quarterfinals, where she will face the winner of the match between Marta Kostyuk and Maria Sakkari. Gauff’s performance in Paris, despite the setback, adds to her growing list of achievements at just 20 years old.
