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Coco Gauff’s hopes of launching one other deep run at a Grand Slam ended within the first spherical on the US Open on Monday, with the US teenager succumbing in three units to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. Gauff, who created a sensation at Wimbledon final 12 months when she turned the youngest participant within the event’s historical past to qualify for the principle draw earlier than reaching the fourth spherical, was overwhelmed 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The 16-year-old former junior world primary from Delray Beach had battled again to stage the match in opposition to the 31st-seeded Sevastova after dropping the primary set.
But after squaring the match by taking the ultimate three video games of the second set to win it 7-5, Gauff was quickly scrambling to avoid wasting the match within the third set.
Although Gauff saved three match factors, Sevastova finally closed out the win, changing her fourth match level.
It was a disappointing exit for Gauff, who backed up her fairytale Wimbledon marketing campaign final 12 months by reaching the third spherical on the US Open earlier than one other respectable exhibiting on the Australian Open in January, the place she exited within the fourth spherical.
Gauff, a fan favorite at earlier Grand Slam appearances, stated afterwards she didn’t assume the absence of spectators in New York had hampered her efficiency.
“I think I compete just as hard with fans or not,” she stated. “I could have played better today. Just going to get back to work and get ready for the French Open.”
However {the teenager} acknowledged that restricted enjoying alternatives in 2020 as a result of a tennis calendar upended by COVID-19, had impacted her improvement.
“The main part that hurt was just getting matches under my belt, getting experience,” Gauff stated when requested to evaluate the impression of the coronavirus disruption.
“That’s what I need on tour. I’m playing against people older than me who have been in more situations, difficult situations, than I have. I think the biggest thing is I just need experience.
“Right now my plan is simply to play as many tournaments as I can, to get matches beneath my belt. I’m nonetheless in doubles right here, so I’ll be right here hopefully until the tip. That’s the purpose.”
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Gauff’s long-term ambitions also include winning qualification to play at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
“Definitely a purpose of mine to qualify,” Gauff said. “Right now I’m simply targeted on the match forward, simply specializing in the second now. But clearly that is a purpose, to qualify for the Olympics subsequent 12 months.”
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