The 90-degree heat wasn’t the only thing searing at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Coco Gauff was in tears during her 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 loss to Donna Vekić in the third round after a fierce argument with the chair umpire.
The 20-year-old rifled a serve during the second set before Vekić returned with a shot that descended near the baseline.
Before Gauff could rally it back, a linesperson initially called it out.
However, chair umpire Jaume Campistol thought the shot landed in, and went on to award the Croatian a point – extending her lead to 4-2.
“I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball,” Gauff said to Campistol.
“It’s not even a perception; it’s the rules. I always have to advocate for myself.”
The match was halted for several minutes due to the argument, and in that time the reigning U.S. Open singles champion broke down in tears.
USA Today added that she reportedly “constantly felt cheated.”
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
The American entered the Paris Games as the No. 2 seed in the women’s singles.
She cruised through her first two outings, where she dropped a total of five games.
But Gauff slumped Tuesday after leading 4-1 in the opening set.
Vekić, who is coming off a semifinal run at Wimbledon, brought the set back before surging past her in the second.
Vekić had 33 winners opposed to Gauff’s nine.
