Rising star Cori Gauff loses in first round at US Open - 'I've still got a lot to learn'
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ByEurosport
Updated 01/09/2020 at 08:11 GMT
American teen sensation Coco Gauff was eliminated from the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time as she lost immediately at the US Open.
Cori Gauff of the United States returns the ball during her Women's Singles first round match against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2020 in the Queens boroug
Image credit: Getty Images
Rising star Coco Gauff suffered a first-round 6-3 5-7 6-4 US Open defeat to Anastasija Sevastova at an empty Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday.
Having reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon in her Grand Slam main draw debut last year, 16-year-old Gauff had never felt the pain of an early exit from the majors.
She felt gutted after her defeat and acknowledged that she still has a lot to learn in the sport before challenging for Grand Slam titles.
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Coco Gauff
Image credit: Getty Images
"I could have played better today," Gauff told reporters.
I just got on Tour a little over a year ago, so I still have a lot to learn and a long ways to go.
The young American was far from her best against former semi-finalist Sevastova, who came into the match on a run of seven consecutive first-round defeats.
Gauff struck 13 double-faults and surrendered the error-strewn contest with a service break against 30-year-old Sevastova, the 31st seed in a women's draw lacking about a quarter of the Tour's top 100 players.
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The lack of fans at the stadium was no issue for Gauff, who had said she would compete "just as hard" with or without them.
However, the long break from competition may not have helped, said Gauff, who lost her first match at the Western and Southern Open to Greek Maria Sakkari in the leadup.
"The main part that hurt was just (not) getting matches under my belt, getting experience," added Gauff.
That's what I need on Tour. I'm playing against people older than me who have been in more situations, difficult situations, than I have. I think the biggest thing is I just need experience.
Additional reporting from Reuters
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