Tennis: Tearful Gauff in 'cheat' storm after Olympic exit
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Tennis: Tearful Gauff in 'cheat' storm after Olympic exit
Agence France-Presse,
Dave James
Published Jul 30, 2024 08:46 PM PHT
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Updated Jul 30, 2024 10:37 PM PHT

US' Coco Gauff returns to Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles third round tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 30, 2024. Patricia de Melo Moreira, AFP

PARIS, France (UPDATED) -- Coco Gauff demanded the introduction of video replays at Roland Garros after being dumped out of the Olympic Games singles tennis tournament on Tuesday in a stormy defeat to impressive Donna Vekic of Croatia.
PARIS, France (UPDATED) -- Coco Gauff demanded the introduction of video replays at Roland Garros after being dumped out of the Olympic Games singles tennis tournament on Tuesday in a stormy defeat to impressive Donna Vekic of Croatia.
Vekic came through 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals after world number two Gauff became embroiled in a tearful, bitter dispute with the chair umpire over a line call in the sixth game of the second set.
Vekic came through 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals after world number two Gauff became embroiled in a tearful, bitter dispute with the chair umpire over a line call in the sixth game of the second set.
Gauff, who had already surrendered a 5-2 lead in the first set, lost her composure on break point when a ball from Vekic was called out.
Gauff, who had already surrendered a 5-2 lead in the first set, lost her composure on break point when a ball from Vekic was called out.
However, Gauff then hit the return into the net as the chair umpire Jaume Campistol was correcting the original call.
However, Gauff then hit the return into the net as the chair umpire Jaume Campistol was correcting the original call.
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He insisted the call had not hindered the American's shot.
He insisted the call had not hindered the American's shot.
The 20-year-old wept as she pleaded her case but the point and break was awarded to Vekic.
The 20-year-old wept as she pleaded her case but the point and break was awarded to Vekic.
Gauff then called for the introduction of video replays to adjudicate controversial calls.
Gauff then called for the introduction of video replays to adjudicate controversial calls.
The French Open venue is the only one of the four Grand Slams that does not utilize technology in any form as officials believe electronic aids are not accurate on dusty clay courts.
The French Open venue is the only one of the four Grand Slams that does not utilize technology in any form as officials believe electronic aids are not accurate on dusty clay courts.
"There's been multiple times this year where that happened to me," Gauff, a runner-up at the French Open on the same Court Philipper Chatrier in Paris in 2022.
"There's been multiple times this year where that happened to me," Gauff, a runner-up at the French Open on the same Court Philipper Chatrier in Paris in 2022.
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"I feel like in tennis, we should have a VR (video review) system because these points are big deals. And, yeah, usually afterwards, they apologize, so it's kind of frustrating when the sorry doesn't help you once the match is over."
"I feel like in tennis, we should have a VR (video review) system because these points are big deals. And, yeah, usually afterwards, they apologize, so it's kind of frustrating when the sorry doesn't help you once the match is over."
Gauff added: "I can't say I would have won the match if I would have won that point but replaying that point can make a big difference in that game."
Gauff added: "I can't say I would have won the match if I would have won that point but replaying that point can make a big difference in that game."
The American star had also argued with the chair umpire during her semi-final loss to Iga Swiatek at the French Open last month.
The American star had also argued with the chair umpire during her semi-final loss to Iga Swiatek at the French Open last month.
Again, the dispute centered on a line call.
Again, the dispute centered on a line call.
"I have to advocate for myself all the time," Gauff, who played a starring role at the Games opening ceremony on Friday where she carried the US flag with basketball superstar LeBron James, told the umpire on Tuesday.
"I have to advocate for myself all the time," Gauff, who played a starring role at the Games opening ceremony on Friday where she carried the US flag with basketball superstar LeBron James, told the umpire on Tuesday.
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"I'm getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me."
"I'm getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me."
Vekic, the first Croatian woman in the Olympic singles quarter-finals since Iva Majoli in 1996, said the controversial incident was a "very tricky situation".
Vekic, the first Croatian woman in the Olympic singles quarter-finals since Iva Majoli in 1996, said the controversial incident was a "very tricky situation".
"I personally thought the umpire made a good decision because the call came quite late," said the 28-year-old Wimbledon semi-finalist.
"I personally thought the umpire made a good decision because the call came quite late," said the 28-year-old Wimbledon semi-finalist.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Vekic had to save three break points in the seventh game as her momentum was checked by the delay.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Vekic had to save three break points in the seventh game as her momentum was checked by the delay.
"I lost my concentration for a couple of points, but I'm happy that I managed to come back in that game because it was an important game," she said.
"I lost my concentration for a couple of points, but I'm happy that I managed to come back in that game because it was an important game," she said.
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Vekic will face either Marta Kostyuk or Ukraine of Greece's Maria Sakkari for a place in the semi-finals.
Vekic will face either Marta Kostyuk or Ukraine of Greece's Maria Sakkari for a place in the semi-finals.
Gauff, who sat out the delayed Tokyo Olympics with Covid, still has a chance of gold in Paris as she remains in both the women's and mixed doubles.
Gauff, who sat out the delayed Tokyo Olympics with Covid, still has a chance of gold in Paris as she remains in both the women's and mixed doubles.
© Agence France-Presse
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