Defending champion Coco Gauff will not defend her 2023 championship at the U.S. Open after losing to fellow American Emma Navarro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in Sunday Gauff was unable to overcome a poor performance that included more double-faults, 19, than winners, 14.
After dropping the opening set, the 20-year-old made a come back to win the second set with a md=match four game run, before losing the third and final set.
Aside from those issues, Gauff finished with a total of 60 unforced errors — a whopping 29 on her forehand side, the biggest weakness in her game. The 23-year-old Navarro, who also eliminated Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon in July, was far steadier on Sunday and had 35 unforced errors.
Who’s Left to Follow at the Open
American Frances Tiafoe advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Sunday by defeating Australian Alexi Popyrin who had advanced to the round by defeating #2 seed and favored to win Novak Djokovic. In 2022 Tiafoe “Big Foe” made it to the semifinals in the U.S. Open. Last year, he was out in the third round.
Also still standing is Jasmine Paolini who is on a blaze this year. Today, the Italian player is set to play Karolina Muchova. Paolini, the 5 seed is statistically favored to defeat the unseat Muchova, but as in any sports, the stats don’t always tell the story.
Paolina, 28, is having a break out year. This year, she’s made it to at least the round of 16 at all four Grand Slams. She advance to finals in both the French Open and Wimbledon. She’s also having a breakout year in doubles with her partner, fellow Italian, Sara Errani. The duo took home the Olympic Gold in doubles.
Taylor Townsend, a steady doubles standout is having a particularly great year. She finally earned a grand slam title this year with she and doubles partner Kataerina Siniakova taking home the Wimbledon in July. The two are still in the running for the U.S. Open Title with the duo advancing to the quarterfinals on Sunday with a win over American Asia Muhammed and Brit Heather Watson.
Townsend is also alive in the U.S. Open mixed doubles with partner Donald Young. The duo will compete today for a chance to advance to the semifinals. This is scheduled to be Young’s last tournament as a professional player tennis player. He, has joined several other tennis pros who’ve moved over to pickleball professional tour. Young 35 says pickleball is offering him a new start.
“Something fresh. It was a good opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up.”
