Young tennis star Coco Gauff broke down in tears during an emotional interview after seeing her Australian Open chances ended in the fourth round.
With first and seconds seeds Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur already knocked out of the tournament the door was open for the hard-hitting teenager to win her first Grand Slam crown. Gauff had shown impressive form as she beat Emma Raducanu in straight sets during the second round.
However, the world No.7 came unstuck against 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko who ran out 7-5, 6-3 victor to book her quarter-final place. An emotional Gauff expressed her disappointment to the press after the defeat.
“I think it’s because I worked really hard, I felt really good coming into the tournament and I still feel good,” the 18-year-old said. “I still feel like I’ve improved a lot. But when you play a player like her (Ostapenko) and she plays really well, there’s nothing you can do.
“Every match you play a part in, but I feel like it was rough. It’s a little bit frustrating on that part.”
The tournament is not over for Gauff as she joins fellow American Jessica Pegula in the doubles competition. The partners were beaten in the French Open final last year and both players will be hoping for their first Grand Slam success at Melbourne Park.
The doubles partners have already won two matches and face Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato in the last-16 on Monday.
“It gives me a chance to still be around and I definitely enjoy just competing in general,” added Gauff. “I think doubles has taught me how to play, after losing, how to play with frustration and that’s what I felt like today. I was frustrated.
"So I feel like it will help me in the future. Bouncing back from a loss is difficult in a grand slam, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow."
Pegula, the daughter of billionaire Terence Pegula, is also in the quarter-final of the singles competition and is now the highest seeded player remaining in the competition.
Gauff added: “I hope that I can help her, and I hope that she [Pegula] continues well in the tournament now that I’m out. I hope she wins it. I knew we would probably face each other if we both kept winning.”
