Paris 2024 : Gauff eliminated from women's singles after controversial line call

Paris Olympics 

Tuesday, 30 July, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

American star Coco Gauff claimed she was “cheated” after she was dumped out at the third round of the women’s singles competition at the Paris Olympics with a 7-6 6-2 defeat to Donna Vekic.

An emotional Gauff argued with the chair umpire after the match ended on Court Philippe-Chatier on Tuesday afternoon. 

Trailing 3-2 in the second set, Gauff complained that a line official called a shot from Vekic long of the baseline before the American prepared to return, which she said caused her to miss. Chair umpire Jaume Campistol overturned the call and awarded the point to Vekic.

The point earned Vekic the decisive break in the second set and the Croatian took the next two games to win the match after Gauff argued with the umpire and broke into tears.

Vekic had a golden opportunity to pull away, with the Croatian leading 40-30 on Gauff’s serve in the second set – and the point proved hugely contentious.

The reigning US Open champion, had managed to throw away a 5-2 advantage in a dramatic first set.

The incident appeared nearly-identical dispute to the incident that marred her defeat to eventual champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open two months ago.

In her confrontation with the umpire, Gauff said: “I never argue these calls but he called it out before I hit the ball. It always happens to me on this court!

‘Call the supervisor. It always happens to me, every time. You understand that I always have to advocate for myself, all the time. I’m getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me.”

Later, Gauff renewed calls for video reviews to be used in tennis, adding: “There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me — where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court.

"I felt that he called it before I hit, and I don’t think the ref disagreed," she said. "I think he just thought it didn’t affect my swing, which I felt like it did.

"These points are big deals. Usually afterward, they apologize. So it’s kind of frustrating. The ‘Sorry’ doesn’t help you once the match is over. I can’t say I would have won the match if I would have won that point."

Gauff must now turn her attentions to the first round of the mixed doubles competition, in which she is representing the United States alongside Taylor Fritz.

The American duo begin their campaign with a potentially tricky first-round tie against Maximo Gonzalez and Nadia Podoroska of Argentina.

Gauff is also due to compete in the women’s doubles competition with Jessica Pegula, with the pair handed a first-round match against Australia’s Daria Saville and Ellen Perez.

The 20-year-old, who was America’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony along with LeBron James, was the second seed and had set her sights on singles gold.