Coco Gauff called for video replays to be introduced at Roland Garros after she was ousted from the Olympic singles tournament on Tuesday following a crushing defeat to impressive Croatian Donna Vekic.

Paris, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – July 30, 2024) Coco Gauff demanded the introduction of video replays at Roland Garros after she was knocked out of the Olympic Games singles tennis tournament on Tuesday, following a storming defeat to impressive Croatian Donna Vekic.

Vekic won 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals after world number two Gauff became embroiled in a bitter row with the chair umpire over a line fault in the sixth game of the second set.

Gauff, who had already given up a 5-2 lead in the first set, lost her composure on break point when a ball from Vekic was disallowed.

However, Gauff hit the ball back into the net, with referee Jaume Campistol correcting the original decision.

He insisted the call had not hindered the American’s shot.

The 20-year-old cried as she pleaded her case, but the point and break was awarded to Vekic.

Gauff then advocated the introduction of video replays to allow controversial decisions to be reviewed.

Roland Garros is the only venue of the four Grand Slams that does not use technology in any form, as officials believe electronic aids are not accurate on dusty clay courts.

“It’s happened to me several times this year,” said Gauff, who finished second at Roland Garros on the same course in Paris in 2022.

“I think we should have a VR system (video review) in tennis because these kind of points are important. And yes, usually they apologize afterwards, so it’s quite frustrating when the sorry doesn’t help you when the match is over.

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Gauff added: “I can’t say I would have won the match if I had gotten that point, but replaying that point can make a big difference in that match.”

The American star also had an altercation with the chair umpire during her semi-final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros last month.

Once again, the dispute revolved around a telephone conversation.

“I always have to stand up for myself,” Gauff, who played a starring role in Friday’s Games opening ceremony, where she carried the U.S. flag alongside basketball superstar LeBron James, told the referee on Tuesday.

“I’m being cheated in this game. You guys are not being honest with me.”

Vekic, the first Croatian woman to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic singles since Iva Majoli in 1996, called the controversial incident a “very difficult situation”.

“I personally thought the umpire made a good decision because it came quite late,” said the 28-year-old Wimbledon semi-finalist.

Immediately after the incident, Vekic had to save three break points in the seventh game as her momentum was dampened by the delay.

“I wasn’t fully focused for a few points, but I’m happy I came back in that match because it was an important match,” she said.

Vekic will face either Marta Kostyuk or Ukrainian Greek Maria Sakkari for a place in the semi-finals.

Gauff, who missed the postponed Tokyo Olympics due to Covid, still has a shot at gold in Paris as she remains in both the women’s and mixed doubles.