US Edition
Coco Gauff sparks debate over US Open scheduling after opponent complains over lack of rest time
By Simon Briggs, Tennis Correspondent, in New York
A one-sided quarter-final victory for Coco Gauff sparked a debate about the US Open’s scheduling policy, after her defeated opponent Jelena Ostapenko complained about a lack of recovery time.
Ostapenko came off court after her thumping 6-0, 6-2 defeat and said that she had expected to play the night session, having finished her previous match – against world No1 Iga Swiatek – at around midnight on Sunday.
She was then surprised and disappointed to find herself first on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, starting at 12noon on the hottest day of the tournament so far.
“I felt like I didn’t really recover from that night [against Swiatek],” Ostapenko said. “I got back to the hotel around 2am and I tried to go to sleep at 3am but I had all this adrenaline and it was impossible to fall asleep.
“The thing was that when I asked the day before, I was pretty sure I’m gonna play at night session, because that’s what they told me. When the schedule came out, I saw I’m playing first match and was, like, ‘Wow, that’s a little bit strange scheduling.’”
In response, a US Open spokesperson said that, whatever Ostapenko might have thought she had been promised on Sunday night, there had been no conversation with tournament director Stacey Allaster or tournament referee Jake Garner.
But Gauff – who remains on course to become the US Open’s first teenage champion since Emma Raducanu – acknowledged that these sorts of scheduling decisions can be disruptive.
“It’s definitely a valid thing,” said Gauff. “I remember in Montreal I had to play Marketa [Vondrousova], and we finished around 11pm and then played the next day at like 1pm or 2pm. Luckily the match before us went long but I still am at the site and everything.
“I do think with a day in between it does help a little bit. But also the grand slam tournaments are tough. She had to play the second night match. I don’t know what time she practiced the next day, but it’s definitely a different feeling and it plays a factor, maybe more mentally than physically.”
Gauff reaches US Open semi-final: As it happened
More reaction from Gauff
I was trying my best to be aggressive when I could. She has had a great tournament and I speak and get along with her well off the court.
The defense has always been there, but I’ve been improving my offense and that’s showing on the court.
Today I played well. This is my shortest match of the tournament by far so maybe I will get back and hit the [practice] courts.”
Gauff reacts
It feels great, I’m so happy. I lost in the quarter-finals stage last year and wanted to do better this year. I have a long way to go but I’m happy and will get ready for the next one.
I didn’t feel comfortable at all the whole match, even at match point. She has the ability to come back no matter the scoreline so I was just trying to play every ball and hit it deep.
Gauff 6-0, 6-2 Ostapenko*
Hmmm. Nerves from Gauff? A forehand error and a double fault makes it 0-30. Oh dear, Gauff does a great job to stay in the rally and Ostapenko misses with a forehand, 15-30.
Ostapenko forehand into the net, 30-30. Ostapenko forehand is long and Gauff is a point away from the semi-finals. Gauff miscues a forehand and ball flies long, deuce.
Great response from Gauff as she finds her first serve and Ostapenko’s return is wide. Second match point. Ostapenko goes after Gauff’s second serve and the teenager can’t get the ball back into play.
Ostapenko goes wide with a backhand, third match point. Longest rally of the match, both players striking the ball cleanly but Gauff gets it done with a forehand winner into the corner.
Gauff 6-0, 4-2 Ostapenko*
Two return errors in a row by Ostapenko allows Gauff to fight back from 0-30 to 30-all. But a delicate lob over Gauff’s head gives Ostapenko a break point.
Ostapenko goes on the attack and forces Gauff to defend and she hangs on when Ostapenko nets a backhand.
Another chance goes by for Ostapenko after she nets a forehand.
Gauff* 6-0, 3-2 Ostapenko
Ostapenko opens the game with a double fault then berates her support box. But back-to-back forehand winners help Ostapenko turn the game around and lead 40-15.
And crucially she holds when Gauff nets a forehand return. That’s the first service hold for Ostapenko in the match.
Gauff 6-0, 3-1 Ostapenko*
Ostapenko starting to apply more pressure in Gauff’s service games. Gauff stands up to it and crushes a forehand winner into the corner, 30-30. But a double fault gives Ostapenko a break point.
Great response by Gauff as she swings a first serve down the T for an ace, deuce. Forehand long from Gauff and Ostapenko earns herself a second break point. Gauff drops the ball short but Ostapenko can’t control her backhand and the ball flies into the tramlines, deuce.
Ostapenko forehand long and Gauf holds serve. That could be the match there.
Gauff* 6-0, 2-1 Ostapenko
The fans are starting to get on Ostapenko’s side. They’ve paid big money and want to see a match. The momentum has slightly shifted as Ostapenko starts to find the lines with her groundstrokes finally.
Ostapenko has a chance to hold her serve for the first time at 40-15 but back-to-back return winners from Gauff makes it deuce.
Ostapenko goes long with a backhand down the line, break point Gauff. Slow serve by Ostapenko and Gauff pounces on it with a cross court backhand return which flies away for a winner.
Gauff 6-0, 1-1 Ostapenko*
This looked like a tricky match for Gauff but she is making this look very easy.
First opening for Ostapenko on the Gauff serve as she moves to 0-30 with a backhand winner. Gauff nets a backhand and Ostapenko earns herself two break points.
Forehand into the net from Gauff and her run of seven games comes to an end. Game on?
Second set: Gauff* 6-0, 1-0 Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
Ostapenko can’t be any worse than she was in that first set surely? She won just five points!
Double fault by Ostapenko, 15-15. She then overhits a backhand, 15-30. There’s been no change in approach from her. Backhand into the net from Ostapenko, two break points.
Much better as she shows more control and takes the pace off her forehand before hitting a winner into the corner, 30-40. Gauff drop shot with Ostapenko standing behind the baseline and it’s a winner.
Gauff breaks again.
Gauff 4-0 Ostapenko*
Credit should given to Gauff for forcing Ostapenko into these errors. She’s staying composed, been resilient and deserved the commanding position she has put herself into.
Backhand into the net from Ostapenko, 40-0. And Gauff holds to 15 when Ostapenko hits a forehand return wide.
Ostapenko has won just four points in the match so far.
Gauff* 3-0 Ostapenko
Rare drop shot from Ostapenko goes tamely into net, 15-15. That’s perhaps a sign of how frazzled she is at the moment. Great defence by Gauff as he makes Ostapenko hit an extra ball and the Latvian nets a forehand, 15-40. Backhand long by Ostapenko and after nine minutes Gauff has the double break. 10 unforced errors by Ostapenko. Terrible start from her.
First Set: Coco Gauff* 1-0 Jelena Ostapenko (*denotes next server)
I’d say Arthur Ashe is around half full as Ostapenko serves to open this match. Once again the shade is covering half the court.
Early chance for Gauff as Ostapenko nets a forehand, 15-30. The Latvian is struggling to find her first serve as she tosses the ball into the sun.
Another forehand error by Ostapenko, two break points. Ostapenka backhand into the net and Gauff breaks.
Perfect start by the young American. Showing discipline and patience will be vital for Gauff.
'It’s really difficult to get used to all this attention'
When I won a Grand Slam, my whole life changed and I needed time to adapt to all that. That wasn’t easy because at that time I was 19 years old, turning 20. It’s really difficult to get used to all this attention, pressure. Everybody expects you to win every single match, every single tournament.
This is not possible because you are human.
Gauff on meeting the Obama's
I saw the Secret Service. I didn’t know if it was Mr. Biden and Mrs. Biden. I knew it was somebody. Then I heard that maybe Mr. Clinton was coming. I didn’t know who exactly it was. So I didn’t know until after the match.
I’ve met Mrs. Obama before. They told me it was just her initially. Then Mr. Obama was there in the room, too. I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I haven’t soaked it in… I think I’m never going to forget that moment for the rest of my life. I went from being really upset after a win to being really happy. I’m glad I got to meet them.
Gauff vs Ostapenko
Hello and welcome to coverage of the first US Open women’s quarter-final as Coco Gauff takes on Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the last four.
Both players have had to battle their way through to this stage of the tournament with Saturday’s final not far away. Gauff will have the majority of support as a home player but Ostapenko’s brand of tennis always catches the eye.
On the hard courts of Melbourne Park at the Australian Open in January, Ostapenko beat Gauff convincingly in the fourth round.
And Gauff says she is well aware of the threat posed by her opponent.
“With Jelena, she’s a striker, ball-striker,” she said. “I lost to her in Australian Open this year. She’s hot or cold, to be honest. Same thing, honestly. Just staying in the match. I might get some more free points with her, more so than Iga. Maybe not. Maybe she’ll hit so many winners.”
Ostapenko comes into the match on the back of a memorable win over Iga Swiatek on Sunday.
“Of course, it’s going to be a very tough match,” she said. “Coco’s a great young player. I played her in Australia. It was a great match. I will try to focus on myself and enjoy it. It’s great to be in the quarter-finals, especially here in New York.”
The Latvian has a French Open title to her name from 2017 and says she is full of confidence.
“I was just practicing really hard before US swing, and also before here,” she added. “I felt like I was playing a lot of tournaments quite well, but some moments here and there were not working. I still kept trying and kept working.
“I feel like now my game is getting back in place and I’m playing more free, in a good way, and not thinking too much.”