U.S. Olympian Coco Gauff broke down in tears on Monday after arguing with the chair umpire over a decision before her loss to Croatia’s Donna Vekic.
Gauff was eliminated from the singles medal race. Loss According to Fox News, he defeated Vekic in straight sets, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
But two games before the end of the match, Gauff clearly felt robbed after a linesman ruled one of Vekic’s shots out of bounds before Gauff had a chance to return the ball, only for the chair umpire to overturn the call and rule Vekic’s ball was in, awarding the point to the Croatian.
The linesman ruled the ball out, but referee Jaume Campistol overturned the decision and said it was in.
Gauff protested the decision.
“I never challenged those calls, but he called it before I hit the ball,” Gauff told the umpire. “It’s not even a recognition. It’s a rule. I always have to assert myself.”
Gauff broke down in tears while complaining to the umpire.
Huge argument during Donna Vekic vs Coco Gauff. The umpire calls the ball out before Gauff returns it and Vekic misses on break point. The ball is in. Coco Gauff cries and says this happens all the time. pic.twitter.com/Fv8zreC1hY
— Edge AI (@edgeaiofficial) July 30, 2024
Either way, the video of Vekic’s ball shows that the referee was correct and the ball was in.
The controversial break point moment when Coco Gauff missed a shot against Donna Vekic at 3-2 (40-30). The ball was in and the linesman appeared to yell after she hit the shot, not before. pic.twitter.com/wwRR7N47dI
— Edge AI (@edgeaiofficial) July 30, 2024
While Gauff missed out on a medal in singles, she still has a chance to win medals in other events: She will partner Jessica Pegula in women’s doubles and Taylor Fritz in mixed doubles.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Hustonor the Society of Truth Warner Todd Houston
