Coco Gauff stuns US Open crowd as racket nearly hits child after furious outburst
Coco Gauff hurled her racket in frustration after losing the US Open women's doubles final. The teen and partner Caty McNally lost to Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai 3-6, 6-3, 3-6.
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Coco Gauff launched her racket in frustration after losing the US Open women's doubles final. The highly rated teen hurled her racket in the direction of her chair but it travelleved even further, and several fans on the front row of Arthur Ashe Stadium could be seen taking evasive action.
Journalist Jamie Johnson posted a clip of the incident on Twitter, which came after Gauff had sent a return long to concede defeat in the final.
He wrote: “Wow. Coco Gauff furious at the end of the women’s doubles final, having lost.
“She smashed her racquet into the ground and then flung it into the advertising boards, nearly hitting a fan. Fine incoming, I’m sure.”
Johnson was correct in his assumption as Gauff was fined $3,000 for the outburst.
The 17-year-old apologised and gave a racket to a child, who was almost hit when she saw red.
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Wow. Coco Gauff furious at the end of the women’s doubles final, having lost.
— Jamie Johnson (@JamieoJohnson) September 12, 2021
She smashed her racquet into the ground and then flung it into the advertising boards, nearly hitting a fan.
Fine incoming, I’m sure.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/mJ0LmeCn9z
It was a child that she nearly hit, and she has now gone over to apologise.
— Jamie Johnson (@JamieoJohnson) September 12, 2021
Gauff has given him the racquet as a goodwill gesture and he seems pretty pleased. pic.twitter.com/2jpzUklwye
"I lost a Grand Slam final. I didn't mean for the racket to go as it did, but I did throw it," Gauff said. "Probably not the best behaviour on my side.
"I don't mean to do that in the moment, but I left my emotions take over. I don't regret it. I only regret the racket went so far and almost hit the kid."
Gauff and her partner Caty McNally, 19, lost 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 to the experienced pair of Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai in their first major doubles final.
Stosur was delighted with the victory which marked her second US Open doubles crown, 16 years after the first.
The veteran said: "It's just a phenomenal feeling to have this trophy again 16 years later. Winning the singles here, I've got so many amazing memories here playing in New York.
“I love coming back here, I love the courts, I love the atmosphere. Obviously a very special place for me.
“It's brought out some of my best tennis in my career over obviously many, many years."
The Aussie, now 37, won her fourth Grand Slam doubles title to go with her success in the singles event, when she secured a shock victory over Serena Williams in 2011.
It’s back to the drawing board for US sensation Gauff, who was eliminated by Sloane Stephens in the second round of the singles event.
Earlier this month, former world number five Daniela Hantuchova said US Open champion Emma Raducanu has a more accomplished game than the American teenager.
She said on Amazon Prime: "Emma has it all, whatever it takes to become not only a top-ten player but I believe also a grand-slam champion.
"There is not one part of her game where I would say ‘This needs to improve.’ Unlike Coco Gauff, where I feel like technically she needs to improve a lot of things. Emma is ahead.”