Defending champ Coco Gauff is OUT at US Open after struggling with serve in…see more

Defending champ Coco Gauff is OUT at US Open after struggling with serve in ANOTHER loss to Emma Navarro

Defending champion Coco Gauff is out of the US Open after a nightmare display against Emma Navarro, losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Damningly, Gauff hit more double faults (19) than winners (14).

It is the second Grand Slam in a row, after Wimbledon, in which Gauff has lost to Navarro.

This was a scrappy contest and a difficult watch at times. Navarro will not win many matches in which she hit 20 winners and 35 unforced errors; those are bad numbers but Gauff’s were catastrophic: 14 winners and 60 unforced errors.

Six-time US Open champion Chrissie Evert, on commentary for ESPN, said she had never seen Gauff play so poorly.

Asked if she would consider hiring a biomechanics coach to consult on her service motion – as Aryna Sabalenka did to such great effect recently – Gauff replied: ‘For sure. I definitely want to get other opinions but also I think it’s sometimes more of an emotional, mental thing because if I go out on the practice court right now, I would make, like, 30 serves in a row. I’ve done it before.

It’s kind of a mental hurdle that I have to get over. But, yeah, I definitely want to look at other things because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore.’

Navarro, born right here in New York City, will continue her campaign against Spaniard Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

As for Gauff, a barren year in the majors is over and she simply has to improve her second serve if she is to return to the winners’ circle. Coming into this match she led the tour in double faults this season, with 296.