Coco Gauff‘s Olympic dreams hit a snag as she falls to Donna Vekic in the Paris 2024 Games, proving that even the best can slip on a banana peel. After a heated dispute with the chair umpire on a call during her third-round singles match loss, the 20-year-old broke down in tears. However, the situation paralleled Serena Williams‘ 2018 meltdown, which was labeled unjustifiable after a viral video revealed the truth.

Gauff served first, and Vekic’s reply bounced close to the baseline. Vekic was ahead 4-2 after a line judge initially ruled her shot out. However, the chair umpire overturned the judgment, giving Vekic the point and a service break, while Gauff did not retain the ball in play. Gauff moved over to get some clarity from the official, which resulted in a several-minute delay.

A fan shared a video of the exact shot on Twitter and wrote, “You be the judge.” The clip shows Gauff hitting the ball and the line judge’s out can be heard immediately afterward.

Following the match, Gauff stated, “I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball. It’s not even a perception; it’s the rules. I always have to advocate for myself.” Gauff got into a furious dispute with the umpires during her Olympic tennis match, complaining about always having to stand up for herself.

This emotional outburst is reminiscent of Serena Williams’ infamous meltdown during the 2018 US Open final, when she argued with officials about controversial calls. It also illustrates a larger trend of high-stakes occasions where elite female athletes are subjected to extreme strain and scrutiny.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was involved in a significant incident that erupted in the 2018 US Open final after she argued with umpire Carlos Ramos. Williams was given a code penalty for coaching during her match against Naomi Osaka, which she fiercely rejected. This led to a violent argument between Williams and Ramos.

Following that, she lost a point for smashing her racket, and then she lost the game for using foul language, which intensified the argument. However, back then, Williams even demanded a apology amid the finals chaos.

When Serena Williams made her ‘thief’ comment

In the 2018 US Open final, with a 4-3 lead, Naomi Osaka was getting ready to serve, and Serena Williams was still arguing with umpire Carlos Ramos from her chair. “I explained that [I wasn’t getting coaching] to you and for you to attack my character … it’s wrong. You’re attacking my character. Yes, you are,” she said, demanding an apology. “You owe me an apology. You will never, ever, ever be on another court of mine as long as you live.”

Williams retaliated, accusing Ramos of taking a point and labeling him a “thief” when he did not offer an apology. When Ramos called for a game penalty for verbal abuse, the scene got out of hand. Williams, who was clearly not amused by the circumstances, laughed sarcastically, defiant despite looking angry. Compared to Serena Williams’ 2018 outburst, Coco Gauff’s impassioned reaction seems less warranted now that the complete background of her Paris Olympics match has been made public via a viral video.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Gauff’s concern in the third round? Do let us know in the comment section below.