Coco Gauff broke down in tears throughout an emotional press convention following her shock exit from the Australian Open on the last-16 stage on Sunday.
The 18-year-old normally cuts a composed determine below the glare of the world’s media, regardless of her tender age.
But all of it turned an excessive amount of when requested concerning the frustration she felt throughout her 7-5, 6-3 fourth-round defeat to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion.
“I labored actually arduous and I felt actually good coming into the event, and I nonetheless really feel good,” Gauff instructed reporters.
“I nonetheless really feel like I’ve improved so much. But, , if you play a participant like her and she or he performs rather well, it is like there’s nothing you are able to do.”
The prodigiously proficient American, who should now wait a minimum of a bit longer for a primary main crown, added: “I really feel like at present I’d say nothing as a result of each match you play a component in, however I really feel prefer it was tough.
“So it is a bit bit irritating on that half.”
Her voice all of a sudden started to crack, the tears flowed and {the teenager} was provided a tissue, earlier than saying: “I’m OK. We can preserve going.”
Gauff gathered herself to say she would now be supporting her doubles companion Jessica Pegula, who was later enjoying one other former French Open champion, Barbora Krejcikova, for a spot within the final eight.
“I hope that she continues properly within the event now that I’m out,” Gauff smiled. “I hope she wins it.”
Gauff and Pegula, the ladies’s doubles second seeds, will play for a spot within the quarter-finals Monday in opposition to Miyu Kato of Japan and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia.
“I’m excited to play doubles. I feel it provides me an opportunity to nonetheless be round and I positively get pleasure from simply competing typically,” stated Gauff.
“So I feel it should assist me (recover from defeat), simply let me play with some frustration.
“I feel doubles has taught me the best way to play, after shedding, the best way to play with frustration, and that is what I felt like at present. I used to be annoyed.”
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