MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff's forehand and serve abandoned her in the worst way and at the worst time at the Australian Open on Tuesday, and the No. 3-seeded American was eliminated in the quarterfinals by No. 11 Paula Badosa of Spain 7-5, 6-4.
Gauff entered the match at Rod Laver Arena with high hopes of advancing to the semifinals, but her usually reliable forehand and serve let her down in crucial moments, leading to a series of unforced errors that Badosa capitalized on to secure the win.
The first set was closely contested, with both players trading breaks and neither able to gain a clear advantage. However, it was Badosa who eventually broke through, taking the set 7-5. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Gauff struggling to find her rhythm and Badosa taking advantage of her opponent's mistakes to win 6-4.
Despite the loss, Gauff can take heart from her performance in the tournament so far. The young American has been making waves in the tennis world with her impressive skill and determination, and this quarterfinal appearance is a testament to her growing abilities.
Badosa, on the other hand, will be thrilled with her win, which sets her up for a semifinal showdown against another tough opponent. The Spanish player has been in fine form throughout the tournament, and her victory over Gauff will give her a significant confidence boost as she looks to go even further.
The Australian Open has been full of surprises so far, with several top seeds falling by the wayside. However, with players like Badosa and other rising stars still in the mix, there is no shortage of excitement and anticipation for what is to come in the remaining rounds.