Security forced to intervene as kids wait for autographs BEFORE Coco Gauff loses US Open match

Coco Gauff was off her game as she crashed out of the US Open to Emma Navarro.

Even the kids in the audience knew she was going to lose as they started queuing up for autographs before the match had even finished.

Several children were seen rushing to the front of the stand as Gauff was serving to stay in the match at 5-3 down in the third set.

They were laden with their giant tennis balls trying to get a prime position for a much coveted autograph.

Defending US Open champion Gauff looked frustrated as she stepped away from the service line while security stepped in to tell the kids to go back to their seats.

Gauff was aiming to become the first woman to retain her crown at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014 but succumbed to a 6-2 4-6 6-3 loss to Navarro.

Gauff was off the pace for much of the tournament and exited at the first sign of real competition.

She was not helped by her serve going missing in action as the 2023 champion sent down 19 double faults and fired 60 unforced errors.

Gauff has had a difficult few months on the court, but called for perspective.

“It’s not the summer that I want,” she said. “I feel like there’s 70 other players in the draw that would love to have the summer that I had even though it’s my least probably done well during this time of the year.

“So many people want to be in the fourth round. So many people want to make the Olympics. So many people want to be flag bearer. It’s perspective.

“Obviously because I’m wanting to reach a different level, it is disappointing, but I’m not going to beat myself up and be, like, this was so bad.

“Yeah, I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.”

Her 23-year-old opponent is having the best season of her career and her quarter-final place at the US Open is her best ever result so far.

Navarro said: “It’s pretty insane. I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane.

2

“This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here.

“Coco is an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again.”

It appears as though last year’s US Open runner-up, Aryna Sabalenka, is in prime condition and the woman to beat as she bids to go one better.

A win at Flushing would be the Belarussian’s third grand slam.