Tennis fans were in agreement with Coco Gauff as she argued a contentious decision by the officials at the Olympic Games.
The American was defeated by the hard-hitting Donna Vekic in the third round of the Paris Olympic Games singles competition.
After failing to serve for the first set, the 20-year-old was on the back foot as Vekic began to overwhelm her opponent with her pace from the baseline and deft drop shots.
But this was not the only challenge Gauff dealt with as a moment in the latter stages of set two proved to be somewhat explosive.
What were tennis fans saying about Coco Gauff’s argument with the chair umpire at the Olympics?
On the final point of the sixth game of the second set, Vekic hit a ball that was incorrectly called out over the baseline, so the line judge quickly corrected their call to say the ball dropped in.
Gauff hit the subsequent return into the net and the point was awarded to Vekic, which gave her the game and a break of serve. The US Open champion argued the initial incorrect call hindered her swing which caused her to make an error and argued that the point should be replayed.
However, the umpire did not agree that the change of call hindered her, which left Gauff furious and even moved her to tears as she argued her case.
Fans took to social media platform X to voice their displeasure with the call as user @BradBellflower2 said: “The umpire in this Coco Gauff match just royally screwed up. He called the ball out before she swung – She’s 100% right and I really hope she can overcome this.
@glynjamin3 posted: “This is a terrible call against Gauff. One of the worst I’ve seen in a lonnnnng time and I’m not one to argue with the officials,” while @Simi__A added: “This umpire is crazy. How can you say it doesn’t matter that the line judge called it out before she hit the ball. Coco Gauff is right here, they should be replaying the point.”
@baniagoh said: “The umpire is just doing Coco Gauff dirty,” while @Dumisani_m wrote: “Gauff getting robbed again at the same venue on the same call. That was the wrong call by the line umpire.”
Coco Gauff suffers a shock defeat at the Olympic Games
Gauff entered the Paris Olympics Games as one of the top stars not just for the USA but the entire event.
Gauff was an American co-flag bearer at the opening ceremony and she was one of the favourites to win an Olympic singles medal.
After breezing through her first two matches, Gauff came unstuck against Vekic, who has continued her good form after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals by recording a 7-6, 6-2 win.
Despite a crushing loss, Gauff still has a chance of leaving Paris with some coveted hardware as she competes in the women’s doubles with Jessica Pegula and the mixed doubles with fellow American number one Taylor Fritz.
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