US Open 2024: Two Defending Champions Fall

Coco Gauff was eliminated in the round of 16 of the US Open 2024 (Instagram/@cocogauff).

JAKARTA - Tennis Players Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, who are defending champions at the Grand Slam US Open, are both home early from this year's edition.

Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round after playing inconsistently when he was beaten by his compatriot, Emma Navarro, with a score of 3-6, 6-4, and 3-6 on Monday, September 2, 2024, noon WIB.

"I lost in the first half over the past two years. Now it can reach the quarter-finals, it's crazy," Navarro said as quoted by BBC Sport.

This is Gauff's second consecutive defeat against Navarro in the last two Grand Slams. He previously also lost to his colleague in the last 16 of Wimbledon 2024 last July.

Navarro's victory also ended Gauff's efforts to become the first female player to defend his US Open title since Serena Williams did so in 2014.

Meanwhile, this result made Navarro (23 years) officially the youngest American female tennis player to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Serena Williams in 2004.

"Coco is an amazing player. I have great respect for him. I know he will come back here and win it again," Navarro said.

last year's Coco Gauff won the US Open 2023 title after defeating Aryna Sabalenka. The achievement was the first Grand Slam title in the tennis player's career.

As for Djokovic, who last year defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, returned from this year's edition of the tournament after losing 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, and 4-6 against Australian representative Alexei Popyrin.

The journey is the fastest round for the former world number one to be eliminated at the US Open in 18 years.