Coco Gauff Lashes Out at the Australian Open Crowd for Being Disrespectful to her American Opponent
Coco Gauff is seeking a third Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open.
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Coco Gauff (Image via X/Quindici Zero)
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If the fans thought Coco Gauff was going to cruise through the Australian Open without breaking a sweat, the third round just gave everyone a reality check.
Gauff overcame surging Hailey Baptiste and hostile crowd vibes in one of 2026 Australian Open‘s top dramas. A near upset flipped to dominant comeback capped by classy leadership that cements her as tennis’s needed voice. She shared her mindset raw in the on court interview.
Hailey’s a great competitor, so to the guy who made that comment. We’re all doing our best out here. I understand you’re trying to root for me, but let’s be respectful. We’re all trying our best. It makes me a little bit emotional playing Hailey. Because growing up, there weren’t really too many Black women and juniors playing. It was only like three or four of us out there, and we had to deal with a lot of the crap that you guys don’t know about. For us to be here on tour today, it really means a lot.
However, the tennis wasn’t the only headline. During the heat of the battle, a spectator shouted a disrespectful comment directed at Baptiste.
Gauff paused her intense focus to call out the crowd’s heckling directly. She stood up for her opponent’s hard work and insisted on respect for both competitors on court. Her leadership shone through in that high stakes moment.
The crowd roared in approval as Gauff took her stand. Tennis may spotlight individual battles but sportsmanship binds it all together. Defending Baptiste under Grand Slam pressure revealed her rare maturity as both elite athlete and true competitor.
Great recovery from Coco Gauff
Coming into this match, Coco Gauff looked invincible. She hadn’t dropped a single set in the tournament. But tennis has a funny way of humbling a player the moment they get comfortable.
Hailey Baptiste, ranked world No. 70, clearly didn’t get the memo that she was supposed to be the underdog. The fellow American came out swinging, playing with a level of freedom and power that seemed to rattle the third seed. Baptiste broke Gauff’s serve twice in the opening set, taking it 6-3.
Melbourne Park fans held their breath after Gauff dropped the first set. Was a shock upset brewing? She then unleashed pure mental steel, sharpening her serve, erasing errors, and shredding Baptiste in the next set.
Gauff crushed the second set 6-0, delivering a bagel with ruthless precision. She stayed calm on execution rather than overhauling tactics, as shared in her on court interview. That mental shift turned her from reactive to dominant, the hallmark of true champions.
The drama seemed to fuel Gauff rather than distract her. She carried that momentum into the deciding set. While Baptiste fought hard to stay in it, Gauff broke serve in the critical sixth game and never looked back, closing the match out 6-3 in the third.
Looking ahead to the Karolina Muchova clash
So, what is next for the American star? There is no rest for the weary. Coco Gauff now advances to the Round of 16, where she faces the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova.
This is going to be a completely different challenge. Muchova (the 19th seed) is known for her variety and tactical intelligence—she isn’t just going to try and hit the ball past Gauff; she’s going to try and outthink her.
But if this third-round victory proved anything, it’s that Gauff is ready for a fight. She has been tested physically by Baptiste and tested emotionally by the crowd, and she passed both with flying colors.
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