A frustrated Coco Gauff broke down in tears after her 7-5, 6-3 loss to Jelena Ostapenko at the Australian Open on Sunday, with the 18-year-old American saying she just couldn’t find the answers to the Latvian’s game.
Gauff came into the tournament having enjoyed an excellent 2022 where she reached the French Open final, but it was former Roland Garros champion Ostapenko who dominated the contest to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. .
“I think every loss is in my control because I feel like I’m a good player, but today I just played better,” the seventh-seeded Gauff told reporters.
“There were times in the match where I felt frustrated because I can usually solve problems, but today I feel like I didn’t have a lot of answers to what she was doing.
“There were balls that she was hitting deep and she would hit them down the line and hit them deep, like over and over again. It’s just one of those days that it just didn’t go my way and it went like her.»
Gauff broke down in tears when asked to explain his frustrations.
“I think it’s because I worked really hard and I felt really good going into the tournament and I still feel good,” Gauff said. “I still feel like I’ve improved a lot.
“But when you play a player like her and she plays really well, it’s like there’s nothing you can do.
«So it’s a little frustrating for that part.»
Gauff will partner fellow American Jessica Pegula in the women’s doubles at Melbourne Park and said playing in that format helps her get over the disappointment of defeat.