Choco falls in first round
The sophomore jinx continued for 16-year-old Coco Gauff, who wore all red but played ragged.
If anyone could’ve used the crazed Flushing crowd support Monday in these two hours, it was Gauff, who fought back against the 31st-seeded Anastasija Sevastova to force a third set.
But serving to stay in the match at 5-4 in the third, Gauff double-faulted on the first point — her Achilles’ heel. Then despite staving off three match points in that game, Sevastova wore Gauff down and the electric Boca Raton, Fla., native batted an easy chance into the net to lose to the Latvian in silence in Armstrong Stadium 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
“Right now losses hurt,’’ Gauff said. “I’m disappointed. I’m going to go back to practice tomorrow and hopefully do my best in doubles.’’
Gauff was too gracious to use the fan-less atmosphere as any excuse.
“I don’t really think so,’’ she said. “I think I compete just as hard with fans or not. I could have played better today.”
It marked the first time Gauff has lost in a Grand Slam in Round 1, deepening her recent struggles. Her second serve has become erratic enough to be concerning. She racked up 13 double-faults in the match. She won just 36 percent of her second-serve points. She looked raw.
Gauff lost in the early rounds in the Kentucky tuneup two weeks ago, then again last week at the Western & Southern Open that was moved from suburban Cincinnati to Flushing Meadows.
Whether she admits it or not, the pandemic logically hurt a player like Gauff more than a veteran. She’ll soon be heading to Europe for the French Open in late September.
“I think the break I was able to work on a lot of things that I normally wouldn’t,’’ Gauff said. “I don’t think it hurt me so much. The main part that hurt was just getting matches under my belt, getting experience. 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.’’
The Open draw did her no favors. Now ranked 51st, Gauff drew a tough seed in Sevastova, who has done her best work on these Flushing courts.
Gauff was down a set and a break in the second at 4-2 before she overpowered and outhustled Sevastova, who is more crafty than fierce with offbeat spin shots.
“I wish I would play like this when I was 16 years old,’’ Sevastova cracked.
Gauff’s serve improved and she didn’t face her first break point of the third set until it she was at 5-4. She muffed a key high volley after Sevastova barely tracked down a drop shot. Those are the mistakes of 16-year-olds.
“It’s just the beginning,’’ Gauff said. “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.”