“Coco Gauff has fallen into irrelevancy” – Fans raise concerns after American’s ‘frustrating’ loss to Jasmine Paolini in Stuttgart QF
Coco Gauff’s disappointing exit from the 2024 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart has sparked widespread criticism, with fans voicing concerns over her recent slump in form. The 21-year-old American star was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, suffering a straight-sets defeat (6-4, 6-3) that marked her sixth consecutive early exit in a WTA event this year.
Many fans have expressed their frustration on social media, with some even questioning Gauff’s place in the sport’s upper echelons. “Coco Gauff has kind of fallen into irrelevancy in the big picture of women’s tennis,” one fan lamented, while another added, “Being a Coco fan is really exhausting and frustrating. Something needs to change fast.”
Others pointed out the abrupt breakdown of her game during key moments. “Didn’t exactly go into this match with high expectations, but Coco looked very solid at 4-2 30-0, then totally collapsed. Her confidence seems to evaporate so quickly lately, and it was concerning to see her backhand break down,” a fan shared. Another supporter expressed concern over her backhand, traditionally one of her strengths, now becoming a liability: “Can she have one week where a fundamental shot doesn’t completely break down?”
There are also concerns over Gauff’s overall performance this season. “Coco can peak for 2-3 tournaments each year, but she’s a pedestrian top 15 for the rest of the season. She has a lot of points to defend in Rome and Roland Garros, so she needs to get it together ASAP,” a fan commented, referencing the mounting pressure on Gauff to find consistency.
After the loss, Paolini, who now moves on to face Aryna Sabalenka in the Stuttgart semifinals, expressed her determination to improve. “Hopefully tomorrow it’s going to be another story, another match. Hopefully, I can play better and add problems for her,” Paolini said.
Despite her recent struggles, Gauff remains a commercial powerhouse, and her journey on the court is still being closely watched by fans and analysts alike, hoping she can find a way to return to her best form.
