Coco Gauff's Surprise Defeat in Berlin: A Bleak Start for Her Wimbledon Dreams
Tennis Player Gauff Forced to Prepare Luggage After 75-Minute Match
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Tennis whiz Coco Gauff experiences a sour loss in Berlin - and hints at more controversial comments.
The Standff-Gauff showdown turns into a bumpy ride for the American sensation. A swift exit from the Berlin Open leaves her reeling. Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson is there to witness it all.
In the Steffi Graf Stadium, Coco Gauff flails her arms in dismay, shakes her head in disbelief, and casts a worried glance towards her box. The grass court doesn't seem friendly today. One sloppy forehand after another sails out, while another lands in the net. Seven double faults don't help her cause either. In the end, the young prodigy bows out after just 75 minutes, losing to China's Xinyu Wang 3-6, 3-6.
"Today was a real struggle," Gauff admits after the defeat. "Wang served incredibly well, and her forehand was a menace. In the pressure moments, she just moved better on the grass than I did."
Gauff stepped into Berlin with high hopes, following her magnificent French Open final victory over global number one Aryna Sabalenka. Now, she sets her sights on Wimbledon, targeting her first deep run at the Grand Slam tournament.
But things didn't go as planned. Arriving in Berlin a week ahead of the tournament, Gauff lacked sufficient practice time on grass, unlike Wang, who fought her way through qualifying. Although the surface isn't her preferred choice, she acknowledged the need to build confidence on it. "I'm incredibly motivated and aim to win here," Gauff said confidently during the press conference.
When the rubber hit the court, the 21-year-old seemed out of sorts, with 41% of her first serves landing in, creating 11 break points against her, while she had only one. Gauff's composure crumbled as the number of unforced errors creeped into her game. In the second set, she lost her initial edge, fell behind, and ultimately had to call it a day, concluding her Berlin campaign.
Trump Foes and Iron Mike
Sympathies for Gauff continue to flourish, the 15-year-old who shot to international fame in 2019. Few sport stars are as vocal and passionate about standing up for what they believe in, championing justice, equality, and civil rights. Gauff, whose family boasts a rich history of activism, has taken on issues like police and gun violence, advocating for stricter gun laws in the US. Most recently, she voiced her opinions against the current administration and its stance on diversity. Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump failed to congratulate her on her French Open win, but former president Barack Obama did.
Former heavyweight boxing champion "Iron" Mike Tyson observed the match, savoring an ice cream cone, and like most fans, left the stands after 75 minutes.
Sources: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- Tennis
- Mike Tyson
Enrichment Data:- Serving and Returning Struggles: Gauff experienced difficulty with her serve and return game, which negatively impacted her overall play.- High Number of Breaks Conceded: Wang Xinyu produced an impressive number of breaks against Gauff, which contributed heavily to the defeat.- Wang's Consistent Play: Wang Xinyu executed more consistent and effective shots, ultimately outplaying Gauff on the day.- Mental and Tactical Challenges: The match posed mental and tactical challenges for Gauff, despite efforts to battle for every point.- Lack of Practice Time: Gauff's shortage of practice time on grass may have hampered her performance, as she lacked the customary familiarity with the surface during the tournament.
I'm not going to be here to witness it, but if I were, I would have seen former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson enjoying a game of tennis, as Coco Gauff recently experienced a surprising defeat at the Berlin Open. Despite her talent on the tennis court, her struggles with serving and returning, combined with a shortage of practice time on grass, seemed to play a significant role in her loss to Xinyu Wang. It's unfortunate that she won't be able to watch Donald Trump's reaction to her defeat, as he has shown little interest in congratulating her on her achievements in sports.
