Wimbledon 2024
Coco Gauff Knocked Out by Navarro as Her Wimbledon Woes Continue
At Wimbledon 2024, Coco Gauff, the No. 2 seed and reigning U.S. Open champion, was ousted by fellow American Emma Navarro in the fourth round. Navarro, the 19th seed, clinched a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, marking her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
Gauff, who had been in impressive form leading up to this match, struggled to find her rhythm against Navarro's consistent baseline play. The 20-year-old Gauff had cruised through the first week of the tournament, dropping only 10 games in her matches against Caroline Dolehide, Anca Todoni, and Sonay Kartal. However, she was unable to replicate that dominance against Navarro.
Navarro, a 23-year-old from South Carolina, has been on a breakthrough run this season. She previously defeated former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka en route to the second week of Wimbledon and continued her impressive form against Gauff. Navarro's victory was a testament to her rising stature in the tennis world, having transitioned from a successful college career at the University of Virginia, where she won the NCAA Singles Championship in 2021, to the professional circuit.
The match saw Gauff struggling with unforced errors and seeking guidance from her coach, Brad Gilbert, who was present in her guest box. Despite her efforts, Gauff could not devise a strategy to counter Navarro's play. The match concluded with Gauff hitting a forehand into the net, leading to a warm embrace between the two young Americans.
This defeat marks another disappointing exit for Gauff at Wimbledon. She made headlines in 2019 when she became the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history at the age of 15 and defeated Venus Williams in the first round. However, since then, her performances at the All England Club have been inconsistent. She exited in the fourth round in 2021, the third round in 2022, and suffered a first-round loss last year.
Navarro's journey to the quarterfinals has been nothing short of remarkable. Playing only her second Wimbledon main draw, she navigated a tricky field in the first week, taking out former No. 12 Wang Qiang before defeating Osaka in straight sets. Her victory over Gauff is the biggest of her career so far, and it solidifies her status as a rising star in women's tennis.
The 2024 Wimbledon Championships have been notable for the early exits of several top-seeded female players. Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 seed, was defeated in the third round, Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 3 seed, withdrew before her first match, and Marketa Vondrousova, the No. 6 seed, was ousted in the initial round. Among the top-seeded women, only Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed and reigning 2022 champion, and Jasmine Paolini, the seventh seed and recent French Open runner-up, remain in the tournament.
Despite her early exit, Gauff's performance this season has been commendable. She won her maiden Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open and reached the semifinals or better in her last three Grand Slam appearances. Her improved game and newfound consistency have been widely praised, and she remains one of the brightest young talents in the sport.
Navarro, on the other hand, continues to impress with her steady rise up the rankings. She reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal earlier this year with a win over then-No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the BNP Paribas Open and secured a berth on the U.S. Olympic team by reaching the fourth round of Roland Garros. Her victory over Gauff at Wimbledon is a significant milestone in her career, and she will be looking to build on this momentum as she progresses further in the tournament.
As Wimbledon 2024 progresses, the spotlight will be on Navarro to see if she can continue her giant-killing run. For Gauff, this defeat will be a learning experience as she aims to bounce back and reclaim her form in the upcoming tournaments.