PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 31: Coco Gauff of Team United States looks on with partner Jessica Pegula of … [+] Team United States against Karolina Muchova of Team Czechia and Linda Noskova of Team Czechia during the Women’s Doubles Second Round match on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Two of the biggest stars in tennis are now out of the Paris Olympics, and while one will be back, the other likely played his final Olympic match.
Coco Gauff, the world No. 2, was eliminated in both women’s doubles with partner Jessica Pegula and mixed doubles with partner Taylor Fritz on Wednesday. Those losses came one day after Gauff broke down in tears after a controversial call during her singles loss to Donna Vekic of Croatia.
“I mean, it’s been a great experience, first Olympics,” Gauff told Britney Eurton of Peacock. “Obviously, it would’ve been great to come home with some hardware. There’s always next time, so just focus now on getting some rest and getting ready for the U.S. swing.”
Gauff, 20, was the first tennis player ever to be a flag bearer for the U.S. and also made a fan out of Snoop Dogg, who wore a shirt honoring Gauff during the Olympics. She is the defending champion at the U.S. Open, which runs Aug. 26-Sept. 8
Gauff and Pegula, the top seeds in women’s doubles, came up short against the Czech duo of Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova 2-6, 6-4, 10-5 in a match tiebreaker after dominating the first set.
Gauff then had another opportunity with Fritz, the top-ranked American man. But the No. 3 seeds also lost to the Canadian duo of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski, 7-6(2), 3-6, 10-8.
“I’m really thankful that she wanted to play with me,” Fritz said of Gauff. “It sucks to lose, it comes down to a couple points. I’m going to be thinking about so many things that I could’ve done better, it’s really tough to lose.”
Fritz and partner Tommy Paul remain alive in men’s doubles and will face Andy Murray and Dan Evans of Great Britain in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Murray is retiring after the Olympics.
NADALCARAZ BOWS OUT
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 31: Rafael Nadal of Team Spain (R) and Carlos Alcaraz of Team Spain (L) … [+] interact during the Men’s Doubles Quarter-final match against Austin Krajicek of Team United States and Rajeev Ram of Team United States on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)
The Nadalcaraz phenomenon is officially done at the Olympics.
Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram ended the run of Spanish stars Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal with a 6-2, 6-4 victory Wednesday.
Krajicek and Ram, the No. 4 seeds, controlled rallies with high-percentage shots while Alcaraz and Nadal made uncharacteristic errors in the early stages. The Americans remained the more consistent team as the match wore on, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to love at 3-3 in the second set.
Krajicek served out the match at 5-4, beginning that game with a nervy double fault. With a packed crowd vocally supporting the fans’ favorites Alcaraz and Nadal, the American duo kept its cool, fending off three break points to avoid any late drama.
Krajicek aced Alcaraz on match point, painting the sideline with a hefty ad-side slice, which the chair umpire confirmed grazed the line. Alcaraz and Nadal shared a hug before all four players embraced each other at net. Krajicek and Ram will continue their quest for a medal with a semifinal meeting Czechs Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek.
Nadal was later asked in the mixed zone if Wednesday was his final match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the court on which he has won 14 Roland Garros trophies.
“I’m happy with the love and support I receive here every time I step out on court,” the 92-time tour-level titlist said in Spanish. “I don’t know if this was the last time. Possibly, yes. One stage has ended for me. My objective was to focus on the Olympic Games and afterwards I’d have to decide, and that’s what I will do. Now I go home and rest and disconnect a bit. When I have [a clear mind], I will take the decision of what the next stage will be for me.”
He added: “I will go to spend time with my family after four months in which I enjoyed tennis again, despite some problems and disappointments. When I am clear about what I will do in the future with or without a racket in my hand, I will let you know. If I don’t have the desire, strength, or motivation to continue, I will hang up my racket.”
The 21-year-old Alcaraz wrote in Spanish on X: “Thank you very much Rafa for this week and for sharing the court with me playing for Spain! It wasn’t possible today, but I’m taking a lot of things with me for the future! It has been very special! ❤️”
Alcaraz, making his Olympics debut this fortnight, advanced to the singles quarter-finals earlier in the day with a straight-sets win against Roman Safiullin. Nadal fell in the second round to longtime rival Novak Djokovic.
KERBER’S CAREER COMES TO AN END
Angelique Kerber, the former world No. 1, saw her career come to an end on Wednesday when the three-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by No. 6 seed Zheng Qinwen, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(6), in the quarterfinals.
The 36-year-old German, who announced ahead of the Games that Paris would be her final career event, was two games away from reaching the medal rounds for a second time in her career. She led the Australian Open finalist 4-1 in the third set before Zheng, who previously saved a match point in a 3-hour and 12-minute third-round win over American Emma Navarro, rallied for the victory in 3 hours and 4 minutes. Zheng served to stay in the match twice in the third set, and in a thrilling final-set tiebreak, showed impressive mettle to see out victory.
After Kerber saved three consecutive match points — two with winners — Zheng carved out a backhand drop shot winner for her fourth chance at victory, which she ultimately secured when Kerber’s final forehand found the net.
(The ATP and WTA contributed)
