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Defending champion Coco Gauff joins US Open fallen stars after New York horror show

Gauff serves up disastrous performance, leaving Serena Williams as last woman to successfully defend title in Flushing Meadows

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Coco Gauff sent down 19 double faults in her loss to Emma Navarro. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Coco Gauff joined Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on the US Open scrapheap on Sunday, as the defending champion crashed out to Emma Navarro in a blizzard of mistakes.

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Third-ranked Gauff slumped to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 fourth round defeat on the back of 19 double faults and 60 unforced errors.

The 20-year-old’s exit means Serena Williams remains the last woman to successfully defend the US Open title back in 2014.

“I lost in the first round the last two years and now to be making the quarter-finals is pretty insane,” said American Navarro, who will face Spain’s Paula Badosa for a place in the semi-finals.

“This is the city I was born in and it feels so special to be playing here. Coco is an amazing player. I have a ton of respect for her and I know she’s going to come back here and win this thing again.”

China’s Wang Yafan hits a return against during her match against Spain’s Paula Badosa. Photo: DPA
China’s Wang Yafan hits a return against during her match against Spain’s Paula Badosa. Photo: DPA

Badosa had earlier dispatched China’s Wang Yafan in a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 victory.

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