Amid the many highs at Roland Garros, there have been a fair few lows for Coco Gauff.
As the world No.3 bids to win her first title on the famous clay-courts that are currently hosting the French Open , one moment Gauff will never want to relive is her third round loss at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Gauff was her nation’s co flag-bearer at the 2024 Opening Ceremony alongside NBA legend LeBron James in what was her first ever Olympics for Team USA.
The stakes had never been higher, and this time the 21-year-old was representing more than just herself.
However, the 2023 US Open champion’s run at the Summer Games ended in bitter disappointment after she was eliminated by Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-6, 6-2 in a third round upset.
It was a game overshadowed by a controversial line call in the second set amid a potential Gauff comeback.
The American hit a serve before Vekic’s return landed near the baseline.
A line judge called Vekic’s shot out, and Gauff did not keep the play alive, meaning the point was hers initially.
However, umpire Jaume Campistol felt the Croatian’s shot was in and awarded her the point instead, believing the line judge’s call did not hinder Gauff.
That gave Vekic a crucial break and a 4-2 lead, causing an incensed Gauff to walk over and confront the official as play was delayed for several minutes.
“I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball,” Gauff said to Campistol before she began to tear up.
“It’s not even a perception; it’s the rules. I always have to advocate for myself.”
It’s no surprise Gauff became emotional. After all, she was a strong favourite to go deep in the tournament and had already blown away her previous two opponents, dropping just five games.
“I feel like I’m getting cheated on constantly in this game,” she added when speaking to tournament supervisor Clare Wood.
The umpire’s call was one that never had to be made.
The rule states: “If a chair umpire or line umpire calls ‘Out’ and then corrects the call to good, what is the correct decision?
“Decision: The chair umpire must decide if the original ‘Out’ call was a hindrance to either player. If it was a hindrance, the point shall be replayed. If it was not a hindrance, the player who hit the ball wins the point.”
The umpire ultimately decided that the line judge who called Gauff’s point out did not hinder the American.
Despite the fact, in almost all cases, a line judge shouting out as the receiving player hits the ball would undoubtedly hinder them.
“I felt that he called it before I hit, and I don’t think the ref disagreed,” she said.
“I think he just thought it didn’t affect my swing, which I felt like it did.”
Controversies such as these are easily avoidable, which is why Gauff herself demanded a rule change, in the form of video replays, following her elimination.
An almost identical dispute happened to her in the 2024 French Open semifinals just a few weeks earlier, during a defeat against Iga Swiatek where she also began to tear up.
“I think tennis is the only sport where not only we don’t have the VR system, but a lot of times the decisions are made by one person,” Gauff said.
“Also, there are so many decisions that are made, and it sucks as a player to go back or online and you see that you were completely right, and it’s like, what does that give you in that moment?
“In situations you can call for the supervisor, but there’s not much they can do from that standpoint. I definitely think as a sport we have to evolve, and we have the technology. They’re showing it on TV, so I don’t get why the player can’t see it.”
This year’s French Open will use line judges, but luckily for Gauff it will be the last edition of the event where such officials will exist.
It’s a tournament of emerging US prodigies, including Gauff’s friend Robin Montgomery and Coco’s former roommate Hailey Baptiste.
From now on, every Grand Slam, including Wimbledon, will have the automatic line calling system and will not have line judges for the 2026 season.
Gauff has started this year’s French Open in impressive fashion after a convincing win against Olivia Gadecki in the first round.
The American spent just one hour and 11 minutes on court as she secured a 6-2, 6-2 win against her Australian opponent.
It was a contest overshadowed by Gauff’s hilarious tennis racket blunder, which she responded to on social media.
