Coco Gauff’s debut Olympics blew up four days after carrying the US flag in the opening ceremony as the world No. 2 lost 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the third round to Donna Vekic on Tuesday.
The second seed broke down in tears in a confrontation with the chair umpire as she protested a line call in the sixth game of the second set in vain.
Gauff had led 5-2 in the opening set before falling in a tiebreaker after a Vekic fightback.
The controversy flared as a linesman self-corrected what had been labelled an “out” call on a Vekic shot mid-rally, a decision which stunned Gauff as she “lost” the point.
After angrily sending the ball into the net, the American got into a verbal with the chair, protesting that the call affected her own shot..
“With British tournament supervisor Clare Wood brought on to adjudicate, the decision went against Gauff for stopping play after hearing the “out, not-out” call.
“This isn’t fair. This isn’t fair. I feel like I’m getting cheated on constantly in this game. I constantly feel like that and then I have to argue,” an emotional Gauff protested.
The incident rattled the second seed, who took the loss after two hours to the Croat.
The episode occurred on the hottest day of the Games, with temperatures reaching 30 Celsius, kicking in the heat rule which allows a break after the second set of a match.
Gauff still has women’s doubles and the mixed to contest at Roland Garros.
Main photo:-Donna Vekic by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
