WTA Paris Olympics: Gauff Loses to Vekic

Coco Gauff was eliminated from the women's singles tournament at the Paris Olympics in a controversial 7-6 (7), 6-2 defeat to Donna Vekic.

The American was involved in another officiating dispute, renewing her call for video review. In the second set, a line judge called Vekic's return out, but chair umpire Jaume Campistol overruled the call, awarding the point to Vekic, putting her up a break at 4-2.

Gauff vehemently protested, stating that the call was made before she hit the ball, affecting her swing. Despite her protest and the support of the crowd, Campistol refused to change the call.

Gauff's frustration boiled when she was reminded of a similar incident in the French Open semifinal against Iga Swiatek last month, where she also disputed a call on Court Philippe Chatrier.

She told Campistol, "It always happens here at the French Open to me. Every time." Gauff has repeatedly faced officiating issues throughout the year and has been advocating for the use of video review in tennis. She believes it would help avoid incorrect calls and ease the burden on umpires.

The incident overshadowed a promising start for Gauff. She had won her first two singles matches without dropping more than five games, but under the scorching Parisian heat, Gauff was unable to maintain her level against Vekic, who was a Wimbledon semifinalist this month.

Gauff had aimed to leave with three medals from Paris, one from each of her events. With her singles campaign ended, she now focuses on women's doubles and mixed doubles, where she has better chances of achieving her ambitions.

Gauff's loss underscores the ongoing debate about officiating in tennis. While the introduction of Hawk-Eye line calling technology in some Grand Slams has been a positive step, Gauff's repeated experiences highlight the need for more innovation. Other sports, such as cricket and rugby, have successfully implemented video review systems, and tennis would benefit from following suit.