By Martyn Herman
PARIS (Reuters) – American Coco Gauff’s hopes of singles gold at the Olympics evaporated in the third round as she fell to a 7-6(7) 6-2 to Croatia’s Donna Vekic in furnace-like conditions at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old United States’ second seed marched into a 5-2 lead in the opening set but Vekic responded in inspired fashion to turn the match on its head with some stunning ground strokes.
Gauff was left in tears as she went 4-2 down in the second set following a disputed line call after which she argued with the umpire and referee for several minutes before continuing.
The Philippe Chatrier crowd got behind the American but the ice-cool Vekic, seeded 13th, sealed the win as Gauff’s game disintegrated. Olympic debutant Gauff will now focus on mixed doubles and women’s doubles.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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