Champion Gauff makes early exit

NEW YORK, September 2

Coco Gauff’s US Open title defence ended in a 6-3 4-6 6-3 loss to fellow American Emma Navarro in the fourth round, the reigning women’s champion becoming the latest big name to make an early exit at Flushing Meadows this year.

Gauff had been looking to avenge her fourth-round loss at this year’s Wimbledon but Navarro stunned the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium with an aggressive all-round display to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

Third seed Gauff fought her way back into the match after going a set down but ultimately 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors meant her first defence of a Grand Slam title was destined to end in disappointment.

“Mentally and emotionally, I gave it my all,” said 20-year-old Gauff, who will now drop out of the top-five in the world rankings.

Navarro moves on to play Spain’s Paula Badosa, who thrashed Wang Yafan of China 6-1 6-2 in the first match of the day to reach the last-eight in New York for the first time.

In men’s action, Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe all marched into the quarterfinals in the bottom half of the draw.

Zverev, still searching for his first Grand Slam title at the age of 27, reached the quarterfinals at a Major for the 13th time after coming from a set down to beat American Brandon Nakashima 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2. “I’m still very motivated,” said the German, who lost to Dominic Thiem on a deciding set tiebreak in the 2020 final.

The fourth seed will next face another American in Fritz, who overcame a sluggish start to beat Norwegian Casper Ruud, the losing finalist in 2022, 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-2.

Fritz was later joined in the quarterfinals by Tiafoe, another player hoping to take advantage of the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz to end America’s 21-year wait for a homegrown men’s champion.

Alexei Popyrin ousted Djokovic in a huge shock on Friday but was unable to progress any further as Tiafoe, roared on by a noisy evening crowd on Arthur Ashe, ran out a 6-4 7-6(3) 2-6 6-3 winner.

Tiafoe set up a quarterfinal against Dimitrov, who was earlier cheered on by Serena Williams as he downed sixth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3 7-6(3) 1-6 3-6 6-3.

Women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka, the runner-up to Gauff last year, continued her impressive form to move into the last-eight with a 6-2 6-4 victory over her former doubles partner Elise Mertens.

Sabalenka will next face Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen, who beat Donna Vekic 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2 in a rematch of the Paris gold medal final. Zheng finally secured victory at 2.15am — the latest finish to a women’s match at the Grand Slam. It beat the previous record finish of 2.13am.

Bopanna-Ebden lose in straight sets

India’s challenge in the men’s doubles event ended with the defeat of Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden in the third round. The second seeds lost 1-6 5-7 to the 16th-seeded Argentine combo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in 66 minutes. Bopanna’s challenge is still alive in the mixed doubles event with Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi. PTI