Navarro Upsets Gauff to End US Open Title Defense in Fourth Round

Coco Gauff's bid to defend her US Open title came to a shocking halt as she was ousted by fellow American Emma Navarro in a dramatic fourth-round encounter in New York. Navarro, the 13th seed, capitalized on Gauff’s uncharacteristic errors to secure a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory and advance to her first-ever quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.

Gauff, the tournament's third seed and one of the favorites to lift the trophy, struggled with her serve throughout the match, hitting a staggering 19 double faults—11 of which came in the decisive third set. The match reached its climax in the final game, where Gauff’s serve completely unraveled, producing three consecutive double faults that handed Navarro the win.

Reflecting on her breakthrough, Navarro said, "I lost in the first round the last two years, and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane. This is the city I was born in, and it feels so special to be playing here." The victory marked Navarro’s second win over Gauff in as many months, following her triumph in their last-16 clash at Wimbledon.

Despite her earlier loss to Navarro, Gauff entered the match with hopes of rectifying her previous mistakes, particularly her mental approach. However, her serve faltered under pressure, with three back-to-back double faults in the third set epitomizing her struggle. A total of 60 unforced errors further hindered her chances of a comeback.

Navarro’s disciplined play and composure in the face of Gauff's power allowed her to seize the opportunity, and she now faces Spain’s Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals. Badosa, the 26th seed, booked her spot with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over China’s Wang Yafan earlier in the day.

Navarro expressed admiration for Gauff, stating, "Coco is an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her, and I know she's going to come back here and win this thing again." The win not only ended Gauff’s run but also placed Navarro in the record books as the youngest American woman to reach the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2004.

Gauff’s defeat dashed her hopes of becoming the first woman to successfully defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014, but the 19-year-old remains a formidable force in women’s tennis. As for Navarro, her dream run continues, and she will look to carry her momentum into the next round as she eyes a maiden Grand Slam semi-final.