Coco Gauff Argues With Umpire, Leads to Heartbreaking Defeat

Tempers flared during a scorching hot day in Paris on Tuesday, as U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff was in tears after an argument with the chair umpire over a controversial call.

Gauff served to Donna Vekić before she returned with a shot that landed on the baseline. Chair umpire Jaume Campistol believed Vekić’s shot was in, thus giving the Croatian the point. Vekić won the match 7-6 after returning from a 4-1 deficit in the first set.

“There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me – where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court,” the seven-time singles winner commented. “I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball. It’s not a perception; it’s the rules.”

This moment is all too familiar as the Florida native disputed a call made during last month’s French Open semifinal loss to Iga Swiatek.

Swiatek’s serve was ruled “out” by chair umpire Aurélie Tourte but was reversed to “in” as Gauff was about to finish her swing.

Following her match Tuesday, Gauff suggested that tennis should “have a VAR system because these points are big deals.” Gauff came into the early match as the second seed at the Olympics in singles.

Though she faced a heartbreaking defeat, Gauff still has a chance to secure a gold medal. The American female flag bearer remains in the doubles draw with Jessica Pegula and is set to play alongside Taylor Fritz during a mixed doubles match later Tuesday.