The tears started flowing at the worst possible moment. Coco Gauff, the world No. 3 and defending US Open champion, sat on the bench at Arthur Ashe Stadium with her face buried in a towel, her body shaking as 23,000 fans watched in stunned silence. This wasn’t supposed to happen to someone who’d already conquered tennis’s biggest stages. But Thursday night showed everyone that even champions break down sometimes.
What Did Coco Gauff Say About Her Breakdown?
Gauff broke down in tears during her second-round US Open match against Donna Vekić on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The emotional moment came after the 21-year-old American double-faulted to lose her serve at 4-4 in the first set, adding to the serving problems that have troubled her all season.
She sat on the bench with her face buried in her towel, visibly shaking as she tried to control her emotions. The vulnerability was raw and immediate, showing the pressure of being one of tennis’s brightest stars.
Despite the breakdown, Gauff fought back to win the match 7-6(5), 6-2, showing the mental toughness that helped her win two Grand Slam titles. The comeback revealed the champion’s heart beating beneath the human struggle.
After her victory, Gauff spoke openly about the pressure athletes face and defended showing her emotions on court. During her press conference, she made a statement that highlighted the human side of professional sports.
“It feels human. I think being an athlete, people disregard that side of us, the human side of things. People say so many things like ‘#3 in the world, you’re doing this, you’re playing this, you should be better.’ If I stopped, didn’t pick up the racket tomorrow, I have a career so many people would dream of,” Gauff explained.
She then explained that she shows people what it’s like to be a human. Gauff acknowledged that she has bad days, but emphasized how you get back up and how you show up after having such bad moments. She displayed strong will after having such a vulnerable moment in the match, calling it “the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.”
Coco Gauff on crying during US Open match
“It feels human. Being an athlete, people disregard that side of us. People say things like ‘#3 in the world, you should be better.’ If I stopped playing tomorrow, I have a career so many would dream of’” 🥹
pic.twitter.com/dlvMA4AzI1
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 29, 2025
The match was particularly difficult for Gauff, who committed eight double faults and was broken four times in the first set. She fell behind 5-4, then 6-5, but managed to force a tiebreak and eventually won it 7-5. The second set was much smoother, with Gauff winning 6-2 to close out the victory.
MORE: Coco Gauff Suffers Emotional Breakdown During US Open 2R Clash
During her on-court interview, Gauff thanked the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd for their support. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks. You guys bring me so much joy. I’m doing this for myself, but I’m also doing this for you,” she said while wiping away tears.
Gauff also credited Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who was watching from the stands, as a source of inspiration. “If she can go on a six-inch beam and do that under all the pressure of the world, then I can hit the ball on this court,” Gauff said.
How Has the US Open 2025 Been For Gauff So Far?
Gauff entered the 2025 US Open as the No. 3 seed but with serious concerns about her serve. She leads the WTA Tour with 320 double faults this season, 109 more than the next-worst player. Just days before the tournament started, she hired biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who previously helped world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fix her serving problems.
Her first-round match against Ajla Tomljanović already showed signs of struggle. Gauff needed three sets to win 6-4, 6-7(2-7), 7-5, committing 10 double faults and 59 unforced errors in the process. The match lasted nearly three hours and served as a warning of the challenges ahead.
The victory over Vekić moved Gauff into the third round, where she will face Poland’s Magdalena Fręch. Gauff holds a 1-0 head-to-head record against Fręch, having beaten her in straight sets in the Australian Open 2024. This will be Fręch’s first time reaching the US Open third round.
Gauff won her first US Open title in 2023 and captured her second Grand Slam at the 2025 French Open. However, her season has been mixed away from clay courts, with a first-round exit at Berlin and Wimbledon following her French Open triumph. The serving struggles surfaced Thursday night represent the most significant obstacle between her and another deep tournament run.