Coco Gauff revealed raw emotion following a straight-sets loss to Naomi Osaka in the U.S. Open’s fourth round. She said she “kind of broke down” to her team. The admission came during her post-match press conference after a 6-3, 6-2 defeat Monday at Flushing Meadows.
A Moment of Vulnerability and Reflection
Gauff, 21, described her emotional state after the match. “After the match I was really disappointed,” she said. “Kind of broke down to my team.” Her team’s feedback, she said, helped her recognize positives. “Then hearing their perspectives and everything, it definitely is a lot of positive things.”
She acknowledged improvements in her game despite the disappointing result. “I think if I kept the way I was going in Cincinnati to here, I would’ve been out the first round,” she noted. Her serve, she said, improved significantly over the tournament. “Where my serve started from the start of the tournament to today was a big improvement.”
Despite that progress, she said, “I feel like now I just have to get everything to work together.”
Disappointment and Confidence Collide
Gauff admitted the loss felt more crushing than an earlier-round exit would have. “Did I feel like I had a lot of confidence after my last match? Yeah, definitely. I think that was a big confidence booster. So today feels more disappointing,” she said. The emotional weight of the week added to her physical wear, she noted, leaving her “a little bit empty” entering the match.
Her U.S. Open journey included tears in the second round during a tense match with Donna Vekic, underscoring the emotional roller-coaster she endured.
Gauff committed 33 unforced errors compared to Osaka’s 12, with her forehand particularly inconsistent. Even with an improved serve, her mistakes proved costly.
Osaka’s Resurgence Continues
Naomi Osaka, 27, executed a controlled and composed performance. The former champion has now reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open. She will now face Karolína Muchová next.
Gauff emphasized that she would not allow this loss to define her. She spoke of harnessing the positives and continuing her development. As she said earlier, “I am not going to let this crush me,” adding that she looks forward to future improvement.