Coco Gauff in Tears After Unexpected Loss at Australian Open: 'She Just Played Better'

Tracey Harrington McCoy
·2 min read
3
Coco Gauff in Tears After Unexpected Loss at Australian Open: 'She Just Played Better'
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Tennis star Coco Gauff's time in the singles tournament at the Australian Open came to an end sooner than she expected after a tough loss in the fourth round.

Gauff was ousted from the 2023 women's singles tournament by Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia on Sunday, 6-1, 6-3.

After the defeat, Gauff broke down while talking to reporters.

"There was moments in the match where I was getting frustrated, because I normally can problem solve," the 18-year-old tennis star said, according to ESPN. "But today I feel like I didn't have much answers to what she was doing."

"There was balls I was hitting deep, and she was hitting them on the line and hitting them back deep, over and over again," she said, tearing up several times during the post-match news conference. "It's just one of those days that just didn't go my way and went her way."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Coco Gauff of the United States plays a forehand during the fourth round singles match against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during day seven of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Coco Gauff of the United States plays a forehand during the fourth round singles match against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during day seven of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Mark Kolbe/Getty Coco Gauff

"I think every loss is somewhat in my control because I do feel like I'm a good player, but today she just played better," Gauff added, per Reuters.

Her time at the Australian Open isn't over; she is still playing in the doubles tournament with fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Last June, Gauff was the runner-up at the French Open, taking on Iga Świątek of Poland in the singles final, ultimately losing 6-1, 6-3.

RELATED: Coco Gauff Says She's 'Ecstatic' About Becoming Friends with Fellow Tennis Pro Venus Williams

Coco Gauff of the US reacts on a point against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko during their women's singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2023. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Coco Gauff

The young tennis star opened up to PEOPLE last year about achieving so much success at a young age.

"It's definitely a different amount of pressure, I would say," Gauff said. "Most of the time, I'm still younger than most of the opponents I play — or, actually, pretty much everyone I've played I've been younger than, and way less experienced."

RELATED VIDEO: Coco Gauff Gets 'Ecstatic' When Venus Williams Comments on Her Instagram & Mentions Her in Interviews

She added: "But I've been the favorite to win, and that's definitely a transition that I would say that was kind of hard to make: to being the underdog, to then being the favorite."

Gauff also revealed other career goals, including another partnership with Venus Williams. Last year, the two teamed up in the French Open after Gauff's usual partner, Caty McNally, withdrew after suffering a knee injury. The two have remained close ever since.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"[Venus is] always commenting on my stuff [on Instagram], and it's pretty cool," Gauff told PEOPLE in March.

"She always mentions me on her lives or interviews," she added, "and I'm like, 'This is crazy.' Every time, I would say I'm pretty ecstatic when she does that because I don't expect it at all."