Gauff crashes out, admits she has 'a lot to learn'

NEW YORK • With no roar from the fans, all that was left on Monday for Coco Gauff was the roar of the planes as they passed over the empty Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Down below was a strange scene: the teenage sensation, 16, and Anastasija Sevastova, an opponent nearly twice her age, locked in an edgy and erratic duel surrounded by stands covered in big blue tarps.

A year ago, Gauff, who has embraced the big occasion in her short career, rode a wave of support to reach the third round of the US Open, following up her fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon.

But against the Latvian 31st seed, she failed to recapture the same form and was defeated in the first round, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

"I just got on (the WTA) Tour a little over a year ago, so I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go," said Gauff.

She double faulted 13 times and had her serve broken seven times by her 30-year-old opponent, although analyst Tracy Austin called for perspective after the loss.

"I hope everybody gives Coco plenty of time," said the fellow American, one of tennis' most remarkable wunderkinds, having reached No. 1 and won two US Opens in her teens. "It would be the right thing to do. Take it from someone who has been through it and who all of the sudden was thrust into, (it's) an intense spotlight."

Sevastova also had kind words for world No. 51 Gauff, saying: "I wish I would play like this when I was 16.

"Great player. Nothing more to say. She was getting better as the match went on. It's uncomfortable to play her."

While Gauff will reflect on how to improve, Japan's Naomi Osaka showed little signs of discomfort from the hamstring injury that forced her to miss the Western & Southern Open final last weekend.

Compatriot Misaki Doi put up a hard fight, but the 2018 US Open champion eventually won 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in her opener.

Afterwards, former world No. 1 Osaka revealed she was managing the pain, but would plough on.

"Physically, I feel like I could be better. But I can't complain because I won the match. The leg felt relatively good. It was still a bit sore... For the most part, I'm managing."

On the mask she wore, which bore the name of Breonna Taylor, a black emergency medical technician that was shot dead by police in March, she revealed that she had "seven (masks)" and would wear them interchangeably to raise social awareness about the victims of police brutality in America.

NYTIMES, REUTERS