Coco Gauff has crashed out of the Australian Open after losing her quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina.
Svitolina defeated Gauff 6-1, 6-2 in a ruthless performance against the two-time Grand Slam champion at Rod Laver Arena.
Gauff had been impressing at the Australian Open, where she was the third seed, but she has just suffered a major shock against 12th seed Svitolina.
The Ukrainian needed just 59 minutes to stun the American, thus reaching her first-ever semifinal at the Australian Open.
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Tim Henman shocked by Coco Gauff’s coach telling her to aim everything down the middle
It is, however, Gauff who is receiving much of the attention after the match, including from former British number one Tim Henman.
He analysed advice from her coach Gavin MacMillan at 0-3 in the second set, which comprised: “She is playing great. What you have to do is literally everything aim middle for now. Go for that and that’s it.”
Henman said of such advice on TNT Sports: “If you are number three in the world and your coach is saying to you aim for the middle that says it all. That is not a tactic.
“That is basically trying to give yourself the biggest margin for error and against a quality opponent if you can only hit it down the middle, she is going to take advantage.”
Svitolina certainly did take advantage of that approach from Gauff, helping her to a 24th career top five win.
Elina Svitolina masterclass vs Coco Gauff deserves praise
Gauff parted ways with her coach Matt Daly just before the 2025 US Open, and at the same time brought in biomechanics expert MacMillan.
He has been attempting to improve her serving woes, which predominantly feature an abundance of double faults.
The American recorded five against Svitolina, with no aces, compared to figures of 0 and four from her victorious opponent.
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But while Gauff is understandably coming under the spotlight, her latest opponent deserves endless praise.
It was a simply stunning display from 31-year-old Svitolina, who used all of her experience and know-how against 21-year-old Gauff.
She has dropped just one set all season, and has now earned herself a semifinal place against WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka.
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