Coco Gauff says she “has a lot to be proud of” after her US Open quarterfinal elimination, but the 18-year-old admits that “in the loss of Caroline Garcia I didn’t play at the level I had to play “.
- Coco Gauff lost on Tuesday but hit the best open run of her career
- Gauff was easily beaten 3-6, 4-6 by Caroline Garcia from an early deficit
- Garcia will now play in a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in her career
Coco Gauff exited the US Open on Tuesday with a 3-6, 4-6 loss to Caroline Garcia, but the teen’s quarterfinal run was still the best of her career in New York.
Gauff won four matches before falling to Garcia, including a third-round match against No. 20 Madison Keys (and her American compatriot), exceeding her own expectations after falling through injury to the first round of the Cincinnati Open earlier this month retired.
“After everything that happened in Cincinnati … I didn’t think it would be such a good tournament for me,” the 18-year-old said after Tuesday’s game.
Despite losing to Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff achieved her best Open run to date
“I think it was good how I was able to recover and I really proved to myself mentally that I can get out of these tough situations and do it. ‘
“And also the first quarter-final at the US Open so there’s a lot to be proud of. But like I said definitely disappointed but I think it makes me want to work even harder and I feel like I know what I have to do.
Gauff was thoroughly outplayed by Garcia, who took a 4-0 lead in the first set and never looked back.
Gauff started the game 4-0 and never really recovered
Garcia will now play in the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career
The American had 24 unforced errors in the match and only managed to break Garcia once.
“Their level was great and I knew coming in was going to be great,” Gauff said.
“And I feel like I didn’t play at the level I needed to come out with a win today.”
Gauff had won the two previous encounters between her and Garcia, who will now play in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time in her career.
‘[From] In the previous games I’ve played against her, I would definitely say that she hits the ball a lot better,” Gauff said.
“So kudos to her and her team because I think she’s gotten a lot better since I last played her.”
Garcia will play No. 5 seeded Ons Jabeur – also a first-time Open semi-finalist – for a place in the final on Thursday.
