Coco Gauff loses the plot in ugly French Open meltdown

Coco Gauff has been called out by tennis fans after an extraordinary racquet-smashing outburst in her French Open quarter-final defeat.

The American teenager's fairytale run at Roland Garros came to a sad end as Barbora Krejcikova became the latest unexpected French Open semi-finalist on a dramatic day in Paris.

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After defending champion Iga Swiatek was sensationally knocked out by Greece's Maria Sakkari, unseeded Czech Krejcikova, who's won five grand-slam doubles crowns but had never previously been beyond the fourth round in singles, powered past Gauff in a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 win.

Krejcikova worked wonders to save five set points in a mistake-riddled opening set before striking first blood.

Gauff's first set frustrated simmered away in the second set, before the 17-year-old completely lost her cool at 4-0 down, when she was warned for repeatedly smashing her racquet into the Court Philippe Chatrier clay.

It was the first time in Gauff's career that the youngster had let her temper boil over in such dramatic fashion.

Viewers took to social media to express their disbelief over the normally cool American teenager's fiery outburst.

The 17-year-old American Gauff was cutting a dispirited and angry figure, warned for smashing her racquet into the Court Philippe Chatrier clay after her game completely unravelled at 4-0 down in the second set at the hands of the doughty Czech.

Following the temper tantrum Gauff, who'd surrendered 15 straight points as she went 5-0 down, rallied magnificently from 5-1, 40-love behind with Krejcikova serving for the match.

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Gauff, remarkably, saved five match points in all as she fought back to 5-3 but Krejcikova, who was ranked outside the top 100 a year ago, finally prevailed after an hour and 50 minutes, roaring in delight as Gauff finally clouted a forehand wide on the sixth match point.

"I certainly never imagined I'd be standing here one day. This is something I never dreamed of," Krejcikova, the world No.33 told the crowd.

"When she saved those points I told myself, 'you got to be aggressive, just go for your shots. If you're going to stay aggressive, it's not going to slip.' That's what I was telling to myself," said Krejcikova.

The 25-year-old, who admitted she was left crying with nerves before her previous round victory over Sloane Stephens as she questioned whether she could play in such esteemed company, found again that she now really does belong at the highest level.

She did have to fight with herself again, veering between outright fragility with her wayward ball tosses and serving but also delivering winning forehands that twice saved her at set point down in the tiebreak.

Even at 3-0 and then 5-3 down in the opening set as Gauff's extra power paid early dividends, Krejcikova, who'd won her maiden WTA tour event in Strasbourg the week before Roland Garros, kept smiling, evidently relishing the fray.

"I just tried to stay, really really calm and that's my big weapon. I was never actually expecting to be here so I'm just happy it's happening and I'm enjoying it," she explained.

Krejcikova will next meet Greece's Sakkari, who is now the unlikely favourite to win the women's crown after her 6-4 6-4 victory over reigning champion, Swiatek.

with agencies

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