‘I’m a bit emotional’ – Coco Gauff crashes out of Australian Open in stunning upset as 41 unforced errors lead to exit
Down goes Gauff. Paula Badosa took down Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open to advance to her first career Grand Slam semifinal. Gauff had too many unforced errors to overcomeGetty It was a stunning upset. Gauff came in the third ranked women’s professional tennis player in the world. Badosa was twelfth. Gauff was undefeated on the year with a 9-0 record and on a 13-match winning streak, going all the way back to winning the title at the WTA Finals in November. Badosa was 0-2 in major quarterfinals before this. Gauff was on an absolute heater, having only dropped one set through four matches at the Australian Open. That is until she ran into Badosa. The Spaniard was confident in her ability going into the match. “She’s full of confidence. But I’m playing well, too,” Badosa said ahead of the contest. “I’m ready to face her.” Badosa celebrated her victory over Gauff by falling to her knees in an emotional celebrationGetty Was she ever. After her victory, Badosa took time to reflect on her journey, including battling back after a major back injury. “I’m a bit emotional,” Badosa said. “As you know, I’m a very emotional person. “I wanted to play my best tennis. I think I did…I’m super proud of the level I gave today. “I would never think that, a year after, I would be here. I’ve been through a lot. “In the past, I was one of the best players in the world but I think now I’m a better player.” Gauff was knocked out after six double faultsGetty “A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport,” she continued. “Now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals. “I will never think that a year after I would be here. This is a dream come true.” Badosa looked every bit the part as one of the best in the world. Meanwhile, Gauff struggled mightily as she finished with 41 unforced errors, a total that included six double faults. It simply wasn’t her day. Despite the upset, she met Badosa at center court and displayed great sportsmanship despite her disappointing finish. Speaking after being knocked out, Gauff said: “Paula was playing great. “Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way, could have been a different outcome in the first set. “I think it’s just a lot more work to do. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed. I’m looking forward to a lot. “Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m in an upward trajectory.” On her double faults, she added: “I needed to work on my serve. The American admitted that she needs to work on her serveGetty “I’m not saying that my serve is where I want it to be, but I worked on it. Obviously a big improvement. “I want to continue working on that, continue working on playing aggressive. “I feel like I was ready from the start of this tournament. “Yeah, with each match I found solutions. Then today I was close to doing that as well. “I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed.” Badosa will wait to see who she faces in the semifinals, either No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion or No. 27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Meanwhile, Gauff will now have to wait until May for another shot at a Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Down goes Gauff.
Paula Badosa took down Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open to advance to her first career Grand Slam semifinal.
It was a stunning upset.
Gauff came in the third ranked women’s professional tennis player in the world.
Badosa was twelfth.
Gauff was undefeated on the year with a 9-0 record and on a 13-match winning streak, going all the way back to winning the title at the WTA Finals in November.
Badosa was 0-2 in major quarterfinals before this.
Gauff was on an absolute heater, having only dropped one set through four matches at the Australian Open.
That is until she ran into Badosa.
The Spaniard was confident in her ability going into the match.
“She’s full of confidence. But I’m playing well, too,” Badosa said ahead of the contest.
“I’m ready to face her.”
Was she ever.
After her victory, Badosa took time to reflect on her journey, including battling back after a major back injury.
“I’m a bit emotional,” Badosa said. “As you know, I’m a very emotional person.
“I wanted to play my best tennis. I think I did…I’m super proud of the level I gave today.
“I would never think that, a year after, I would be here. I’ve been through a lot.
“In the past, I was one of the best players in the world but I think now I’m a better player.”
“A year ago I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport,” she continued.
“Now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today, I’m in the semi-finals.
“I will never think that a year after I would be here. This is a dream come true.”
Badosa looked every bit the part as one of the best in the world.
Meanwhile, Gauff struggled mightily as she finished with 41 unforced errors, a total that included six double faults.
It simply wasn’t her day.
Despite the upset, she met Badosa at center court and displayed great sportsmanship despite her disappointing finish.
Speaking after being knocked out, Gauff said: “Paula was playing great.
“Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way, could have been a different outcome in the first set.
“I think it’s just a lot more work to do. I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed. I’m looking forward to a lot.
“Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m in an upward trajectory.”
On her double faults, she added: “I needed to work on my serve.
“I’m not saying that my serve is where I want it to be, but I worked on it. Obviously a big improvement.
“I want to continue working on that, continue working on playing aggressive.
“I feel like I was ready from the start of this tournament.
“Yeah, with each match I found solutions. Then today I was close to doing that as well.
“I’m obviously disappointed, but I’m not completely crushed.”
Badosa will wait to see who she faces in the semifinals, either No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion or No. 27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Meanwhile, Gauff will now have to wait until May for another shot at a Grand Slam title at the French Open.
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