All is not well for Coco Gauff in Paris. Despite trying a new strategy, the reigning US Open champion ultimately lost to Iga Swiatek for the 11th time. While it may seem as though Swiatek is unbeatable on clay, Gauff would say otherwise. That’s because during her semifinal match against the Pole at Roland Garros, she believed one call by the umpire changed her trajectory. Bringing the limitations of that decision, as Gauff unleashed her disappointment, her friend Danielle Collins showed her support.
The umpire call in question occurred in the fourth game of the second set when Coco Gauff was a set and 1-2 down. When the American was 0-15 up, Swiatek’s serve was called out. Gauff returned it, but it hit the net. Just as that happened, the chair umpire, Aurelie Tourte, overruled the decision, saying that the serve was in. With all this, the 20-year-old believed the linesperson’s call affected her return. However, when Tourte failed to see eye to eye, she awarded the point to Swiatek. Needless to say, this started a debate.
The 20-year-old argued, “I didn’t even finish my follow through. He called it before I hit it. Can you ask him?” However, Tourte denied the request, stating, “We cannot ask him. It did not affect the shot.” Gauff’s disappointment was justified since every point mattered to her against Swiatek. Despite the effort, she lost to the World No.1 in their 12th meeting, 6-2, 6-4. In the aftermath, it was her post-match comments that garnered quite a lot of attention. And Danielle Collins’ support.
Danielle Collins took her Instagram story to support Coco Gauff’s stance after her second set controversy against Iga Swiatek. Sharing Gauff’s statement shared by ESPNW on Instagram, Collins extended her support as she wrote: “AGREED!!” But what exactly did the 30-year-old agree to? In the wake of a situation like hers happening for the second time in four months (she faced a similar situation at the Dubai Championships in February), Gauff blamed the backdated system of the sport.
Expressing her frustration about the unfavorable call, Coco Gauff said, “Tennis is the only sport where not only we don’t have the VR (virtual referee) system, but a lot of times, the decisions are made by one person. In other sports, it’s usually multiple refs in making a decision. I know US Open brought some of it last year, I believe.” For the first time in tennis history, a tournament experienced a video-assist review system. Although it should’ve enabled umpires to rewatch points and make a calculated decision thereafter, the technology wasn’t really a success as it was “not working” multiple times.
Other than that, the French Open is still one of the only tournaments on the calendar that doesn’t employ even Hawk-Eye for challenges and line calls, even though viewers get to see it on TV most of the time. This is precisely what Coco Gauff pointed out: “I definitely think, as a sport, we have to evolve, and we have the technology. They’re showing it on TV, so I don’t get why the player can’t see it.” She made a good point, which is why Collins agreed with her. Whether or not the VR system will appear in tournaments soon, at least one aspect of the French Open will see a change next year.
In April 2023, the ATP announced it would completely shift to Electronic Line Calling by 2025. This means that every tournament on the calendar will do away with on-court linespeople in exchange for automated calling. Although the WTA hasn’t made a similar statement, it’s likely that even it will benefit from the French Open implementing this next year.
That said, as Coco Gauff called for tennis to evolve as a sort and embrace the advancements in technology, Danielle Collins agreed with her. It was only a few days back when Gauff shared her admiration for the Miami Open winner when she was having a tough time with the media. Now that Gauff was going through something similar, Collins didn’t waste a minute before taking a stand for her friend.
Coco Gauff said Danielle Collins has “the best energy,” showing love for her compatriot
Danielle Collins’ support for Gauff wasn’t an alien thing for their fans. The duo have shared an amazing bond, speaking highly of each other to the media. A few days back, Collins took to her Instagram to share her challenging phases after exiting the French Open and getting bombarded with retirement questions in the interview. She also spoke about how desperate she is to enjoy her life and family time with her dog, Mr. Quincy, before she comes back for the grass-court season. Gauff came across Collins’ social media, and the US Open champion commented, “The best energy on and off the court!”
Previously, during the Italian Open, Gauff complimented Collins. “I think Danielle has been on a string of wins lately. I think we just all root for each other and push for each other. We speak all the time. Danielle and I, I love her. Me and her got closer after the Billie Jean King Cup we did together. She’s just a great person honestly. I love to see her do well. I think if you ask her, she loves to see me do well,” said Coco.
That’s why Danielle Collins’ support for Coco Gauff during the latter’s unfortunate time delighted their fans with an inspirational message. They understood that keeping aside rivalry, tennis brings people closer and creates a bond of a lifetime among people.