Coco Gauff‘s dreams of clinching another Grand Slam title came to an abrupt end as her forehand and serve faltered against Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday. The No. 3 seed was eliminated by the 27-year-old Spaniard, who secured a straight-set victory, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to her maiden Grand Slam semifinal.
Gauff, riding high on a 13-match winning streak and a flawless 9-0 record in 2025, entered the match brimming with confidence following her triumph at the WTA Finals last November. Despite her momentum, the 2023 US Open champion struggled to maintain consistency, committing 41 unforced errors, including six costly double faults and 28 missed forehands. Her serve woes were particularly evident, with a double fault handing Badosa a critical break to lead 5-2 in the second set.
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Badosa, seeded No. 11, displayed remarkable composure and resilience. “She’s full of confidence. But I’m playing well, too,” Badosa said before the match. Her confidence proved justified as she outmaneuvered Gauff in key moments, neutralizing the American’s typically dominant baseline game.
Gauff’s inability to generate a single break point until late in the second set further highlighted her struggles. By the time she began to mount a resistance, the deficit was too great to overcome. At just 20 years old, Gauff will look to rebound in the upcoming tournaments, but this loss serves as a stark reminder of the challenges at the highest level of competition.
For Badosa, this victory marks a significant milestone in her career. The Spaniard will now aim to carry her momentum into the semifinals, with her sights set on an even deeper run at Melbourne Park.
