text: In a thrilling all-American matchup, defending champion Coco Gauff was defeated by Emma Navarro in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. Despite a valiant effort from Gauff, she was unable to overcome her poor performance, which included 19 double faults and only 14 winners. The loss ended Gauff’s impressive 10-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows, where she had claimed her first Grand Slam title last year.
  Although Gauff showed moments of brilliance, including a four-game run in which she claimed 14 out of 17 points to steal the second set, she ultimately fell short in the third set. The 20-year-old from Florida struggled with her serve throughout the match, committing a total of 60 unforced errors, with 29 coming from her forehand side.
  Navarro, who had previously eliminated Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon, displayed a steadier performance and capitalized on her opponent’s mistakes. The 23-year-old’s victory sets up a quarterfinal match against Paula Badosa on Tuesday.
  This unexpected loss adds to the surprises at this year’s U.S. Open, following defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic’s third-round defeat. The event continues to see a lack of consecutive title winners, with Serena Williams and Roger Federer being the last to achieve this feat. Despite the disappointment, Gauff remains a promising talent in the world of tennis and will surely bounce back from this setback.
  Photo credit www.centralmaine.com