Coco Gauff’s Paris Olympics journey came to an end on Wednesday with a disappointing loss in the women’s doubles second round. Partnering with Jessica Pegula, the top-seeded American duo were eliminated by the Czech pair of Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova. The match, which was delayed by rain, ultimately went to a match tiebreaker, which the Czechs dominated, winning 2-6, 6-4, 10-5.
This defeat follows Gauff’s emotional exit from the singles competition on Tuesday. She was defeated by Donna Vekic of Croatia in straight sets in the third round, despite being the second seed. The match saw Gauff engage in a heated argument with the chair umpire near the end, highlighting her frustration with a questionable officiating decision.
Despite the setbacks, Gauff still had the mixed doubles competition to look forward to, partnering with Taylor Fritz. She entered the Paris Games as one of the sport’s biggest stars, having won her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open last September. Gauff also added her first major doubles title at the French Open in June, though not with Pegula who was injured at the time. Instead, she partnered with Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.
Her success extends beyond doubles, as Gauff has also reached a singles final at the French Open, losing to Iga Swiatek in 2022. This tournament takes place at the Roland Garros facility, the same clay-court venue hosting the Paris Games tennis matches.
Muchova, Gauff’s doubles opponent, is no stranger to success on clay courts. She was the runner-up to Swiatek at the French Open last year and reached the US Open semifinals before falling to Gauff in a match interrupted by a climate protest. Muchova returned to action in June after a 10-month absence due to wrist surgery.
Her doubles partner, Noskova, has also made a significant impact on the tennis world. Her biggest achievement came at the Australian Open in January, where she became the first teenager since 1999 to defeat a No. 1-ranked woman, beating Swiatek in the third round. Noskova’s impressive play helped secure the victory for the Czech duo, ultimately ending Gauff’s Olympic journey.
