The US Open has witnessed the highs and lows of tennis in its opening week. It has also witnessed a fair bit of drama when Coco Gauff locked horns with Laura Siegemund. Despite Gauff winning the encounter, the match will be talked about for a long time and not just for her victory.
The crowd had tried to distract Siegemund during her service by making noises and even booed her on her way out. The German broke down in tears during the press conference, feeling that the crowd had treated her unfairly.
Tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann slammed Siegemund for her comments on X (formerly known as Twitter). She wrote how Laura’s statements made no sense. Rachel further added that the crowd will always treat the home favorite’s opponent as an enemy. “They are there to watch you get rattled. And cheer on your demise,” she wrote.
I’m sorry, but this makes no sense. When you face a top player in their own country in a slam, you will be treated like the enemy. You are. They are there to watch you get rattled. And cheer on your demise. https://t.co/R5aiT73qjO
— Rachel Stuhlmann (@rstuhlmann) August 29, 2023
Gauff and Siegemund‘s Opening round encounter was fraught with tension. Laura had flirted with the serve timer throughout the game, but frustrations boiled over in the third set. The teenager confronted the umpire, pointing out how Laura had been seemingly getting away with time violations.
Coco’s stance was met with loud cheers from the crowd and even her fans supported her online. The teenager eventually went on to win the match, defeating Siegemund 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. But the drama did not end there, as Laura snubbed the umpire for a handshake after the match.
How were Coco Gauff and Laura Siegemund affected by this encounter?
When young Coco Gauff was asked about the match in the interview, she described it as “slow.” It was a sly jab at the German, who had tried to slow Coco down. However, she added that it was not an easy match for her and Siegemund was a difficult opponent.
Laura was clearly overwhelmed by their match, as she broke down in tears. “They treated me like I was a bad person,” said the two-time Grand Slam champion.
Experts believe that the whole encounter affected both players. Laura trying to deliberately slow down Coco was a smart move, but the umpire let it go too far. The umpire should have stepped in of her own volition long before Gauff said something. She could have ensured the match proceeded at a moderate pace, suitable to both.
Nevertheless, it was an entertaining match and both players fought hard. Coco went on to defeat Siegemund and Mirra Andreeva en route to the third round, where she will play Elise Mertens.