Coco Gauff suffered defeat in the women's singles. GETTY IMAGES

Coco Gauff was all smiles as she proudly hoisted the US flag high above her head during the Paris opening ceremony alongside LeBron James. However, it was the total opposite for the American star after she suffered a tough defeat in the women's singles on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old, who had recently made headlines by winning the US Open, faced a tough challenge in the third round at Roland Garros in Paris. She was defeated by Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic, 7-6(7), 6-2, in scorching conditions. Gauff's frustration peaked as she cried on Court Philippe-Chatrier, arguing with the chair umpire over a contentious call. This incident mirrored a similar dispute that had marred her loss to eventual champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open two months ago.

Trailing in the second set, Gauff protested that a line official called a shot from Vekic long of the baseline just as she was preparing to return, which she claimed caused her to miss. Chair umpire Jaume Campistol overturned the call, awarding the point to Vekic. This crucial point gave Vekic the decisive break in the second set. The Croatian then swiftly took the next two games to win the match, while Gauff argued with the umpire and broke into tears.

It will be no gold for Coco Gauff after her women's singles defeat. GETTY IMAGES
It will be no gold for Coco Gauff after her women's singles defeat. GETTY IMAGES

“I never argue these calls but he called it out before I hit the ball. It always happens to me on this court! Call the supervisor. It always happens to me, every time. You understand that I always have to advocate for myself, all the time. I’m getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me.” 

Later, Gauff renewed calls for video reviews to be used in tennis, adding, “There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me, where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court. 

"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. These points are big deals. Usually afterward, they apologise. So it’s kind of frustrating. The ‘Sorry’ doesn’t help you once the match is over. I can’t say I would have won the match if I would have won that point."



Women's singles results

In the women's singles last16, several exciting matches unfolded. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova from Slovakia triumphed over Italy's Jasmine Paolini in a hard-fought three-set match, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 on Court Simonne Mathieu. Germany's Angelique Kerber defeated Canada's Leylah Fernandez with a solid 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Danielle Collins from the United States emerged victorious against Colombia's Camila Osorio, securing her win with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 result. China's Qinwen Zheng overcame Emma Navarro of the United States in a thrilling three-set battle, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-1.

Danielle Collins of the USA got past Colombia's Camila Osorio. GETTY IMAGES
Danielle Collins of the USA got past Colombia's Camila Osorio. GETTY IMAGES

Meanwhile, Greece's Maria Sakkari was in progress against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, having split the first two sets, 6-4, 6-7(5), Kostyuk came out on top to secure victory with a third set 6-4 win.

On Court 7, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine lead 2-0 in the third set against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czechia after splitting the first two sets, 6-7(5), 6-2, though Krejcikova broke back to win 6-4. Additionally, the highly anticipated match between Poland's Iga Swiatek and China's Xiyu Wang on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Swiatek won the match 6-3, 6-2.


Women's doubles

In the women's doubles round of 16, Taiwan's Su-Wei Hsieh and Chia-Yi Tsao faced Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Dayana Yastremska on Court 6. Hsieh and Tsao emerged victorious, winning 6-4, 6-3.

Meanwhile, on Court 7, Great Britain's Katie Boulter and Heather Watson managed a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Germany's Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund.

On Court 12, Spain's Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo secured a straight-set victory over Argentina's Maria Lourdes Carle and Nadia Podoroska, winning 6-3, 6-4. Over on Court 13, the Russian pair of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider triumphed in a thrilling three-set match against Australia's Olivia Gadecki and Ajla Tomljanovic, with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 10-6.



Greece's Despina Papamichail and Maria Sakkari competed against the American duo Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk, winning 7-5, 6-4. Additionally, Taiwan's Hao-Ching Chan and Latisha Chan faced the Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, who won 6-3, 6-2. Lastly, Italy's Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini got past France's Caroline Garcia and Diane Parry, with the French duo securing a 6-4, 6-3 victory.


"Nadalcaraz" - Spain's dream doubles team progress

Rafael Nadal, who will reveal his tennis future after the Olympics, and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-2 victory over the Dutch pair Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof. Playing at Roland Garros, the "Nadalcaraz" team delighted the packed crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen, which showed unwavering support by chanting, "Let's go Rafa, let's go."

Nadal, 38, who was eliminated from singles competition by Novak Djokovic on Monday, returned to the court alongside his 21-year-old teammate to loud applause. The Spaniards pressured their opponents' serves throughout the first set, breaking in the seventh game when Alcaraz unleashed a cross-court forehand winner. They closed out the set 6-4 in 54 minutes, with French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz serving strongly.

The Spanish dream team of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz won the men's doubles again. GETTY IMAGES
The Spanish dream team of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz won the men's doubles again. GETTY IMAGES

Despite wearing strapping on his right thigh, Nadal appeared unhindered, displaying his characteristic powerful forehands and agility at the net. Both teams had opportunities to break serve towards the end of a tight second set, but it was the Dutch who dominated the tiebreak to level the match.

In the decisive match tiebreak, Nadal and Alcaraz surged ahead to a 5-0 lead and ultimately won 10-2, concluding the match after two hours and 22 minutes. Their victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with the fourth-seeded American team of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Nadal, a 14-time French Open singles champion, is competing in just his seventh tournament of 2024, a year marked by injuries that have dropped his ranking to 161. He aims to secure a third Olympic gold, adding to his 2008 singles title and 2016 doubles triumph.



Men's doubles results

France's Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin took on Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, with the Germans winning 6-3, 6-1. On Court 9, Portugal's Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral against Germany's Dominik Koepfer and Jan-Lennard Struff ended with the German pair winning 6-2, 6-2.

On Court 12, the American pair of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram secured a victory over Brazil's Thiago Monteiro and Thiago Seyboth Wild with a score of 6-4, 7-6(3). Australia's Matthew Ebden and John Peers defeated Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-5 on Court 13.

In the rest of the action, Great Britain's duo, Daniel Evans and Andy Murray, are still in action facing Belgium's Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen on Court 6. 

Finally, Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek from the Czech Republic got past Chile's Nicolas Jarry and Alejandro Tabilo. Despite losing the first set 7-5, they won 7-6 and 10-4 in the third.


Men's singles

In the men's singles round of 32, several intense matches took place. On Court Philippe-Chatrier, Germany's Alexander Zverev defeated Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic with a solid 6-3, 7-5 victory. On Court Simonne Mathieu, Taylor Fritz from the United States overcame Great Britain's Jack Draper in a three-set battle, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2. Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada dominated Germany's Maximilian Marterer with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 win on Court 6.

Lorenzo Musetti from Italy triumphed over Argentina's Mariano Navone, securing his victory with a 7-6(2), 6-3 scoreline. Tommy Paul of the United States defeated Jakub Mensik from the Czech Republic, winning 6-3, 6-1 on Court 14. 

In another match on the same court, Alexei Popyrin from Australia beat Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka, 6-4, 7-5. Additionally, France's Corentin Moutet advanced with a walkover against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. Over on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Austria's Sebastian Ofner is still battling against Daniil Medvedev.