After a staggering quarterfinal defeat, Coco Gauff exited the court and, in a rare display of raw emotion, took her frustrations out on her racket in the player tunnel.
Coco Gauff is known for her composure. Win or lose, she usually carries herself with a calm that feels far beyond her years. That’s why what unfolded after her Australian Open quarterfinal loss stopped fans in their tracks.
The match itself was over almost as soon as it began. In just 59 minutes, Elina Svitolina powered through Gauff with a commanding 6–1, 6–2 victory, allowing the American to win only three games. From the opening points, something felt off. Gauff looked tight, uncomfortable, and unusually serious. ESPN analyst Caroline Wozniacki noted the contrast even before the first serve was struck, pointing out that while Svitolina appeared relaxed and smiling during warmups, Gauff looked stern and locked in on something heavier.
That energy followed her onto the court.
Svitolina played free and confident tennis, dictating rallies and moving with purpose. Gauff, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm. Her shots lacked their usual bite. Her body language grew increasingly tense. As the match slipped further away, cameras caught her in a heated exchange with her player’s box, a rare sight for a player so often praised for her maturity and restraint.
When the final point ended, the frustration didn’t stay on the court.
As Gauff walked through the tunnel toward the locker room, she finally let it out. Cameras captured her smashing her racket, a raw release of emotion that fans aren’t accustomed to seeing from her.
For many fans, the moment was jarring. Coco Gauff is more than a tennis star. She’s a symbol of poise, discipline, and character. She’s a defending French Open champion, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, and a Grand Slam doubles champion. She’s one of the faces of women’s tennis, not just because of her results, but because of how she carries herself.
That’s what made this moment land so hard.
The frustration didn’t come out of nowhere. Coco Gauff’s serve has been a lingering issue over the past nine months, an acknowledged weakness that has clearly weighed on her. She made tough decisions ahead of the US Open, parting ways with members of her coaching team in an effort to recalibrate. The process is ongoing.
