Why Coco Gauff lost her bid to become first woman to defend the US Open title

Safe to say that Coco Gauff's 2024 US Open did not go as planned.

She lost her bid to become the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014.

After defeating Aryna Sabalenka last year to claim her first Grand Slam title, and becoming the first American teenager to win the women's singles title since Serena Williams in 1999, the now 20-year-old failed to deliver the same performance. 

The 20-year old 2023 U.S. Open Champion lost to fellow American Emma Navarro 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Knocked out by Navarro in the round of 16, Gauff's game just didn't seem quite right: she finished the match with 60 unforced errors and 19 double faults.

Given Gauff's second serve has been a weak point all season, several experts, including Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs, have questioned her and her team.

Stubbs questions Coco's mental state

When talking about Gauff's defeat, Stubbs noted the youngster lacked confidence and was showcasing bad technique over the past few months.

"I feel so sorry for her because all the lights are on her and she's not in a good space, she's mentally not in a good space. She's getting very upset on the court," said Stubbs.

Stubbs also questioned Gauff's coach, Brad Gilbert, for openly talking to his player during the match against Navarro. This would have allowed Navarro's team to hear the conversation.

"The thing with Emma [Navarro] is that she is always looking to attack and most women are looking to attack because they often see a slow second serve in women's tennis. Not like in the men's," Stubbs told ESPN.

"Sometimes she (Gauff) was hitting at like in a mid-90-s second serve, then she was going a little bit slower in the middle. There's no second serve, that's the sign. And that's a problem," said Stubbs.

While Gilbert defended Gauff by stating she is practicing well and just not executing in matches, Stubbs believes the youngster needs to work on her mechanics.

"So under pressure, bad technique breaks down and her technique is...hard for me to say because Brad [Gilbert] is sitting here...but her technique, the elbow, is too low, the grip is a little weird as well. So it's hard for her to get that nice first serve and then the same or similar second serve," Stubbs concluded.