Later, Gauff’s coach asked, “Your call. When you’re finished, we’re finished.”
But Coco still wasn’t done aiming at that target. After 16 more shots, the 18-year-old Roland Garros runner-up finally decided that she’d had enough.
Hard to believe, then, that Gauff’s forehand would let her down so often the next day, in a must-win match against Daria Kasatkina.
Over the course of two sets, Gauff misfired 43 times, most often with her forehand, in a 7-6 (6), 6-3 defeat that both ensured Iga Swiatek’s passage to the semifinals and eliminated any chance of Coco doing the same.
On Saturday, Kasatkina will face Caroline Garcia, who lost to Swiatek in the day’s first singles match, 6-2, 6-3, for second place in the Tracy Austin Group.
Gauff led Kasatkina 4-1 before leaks started showing. Serving at 4-2, Gauff donated a break back with a quick, error-filled game. Another three-error game followed as Kasatkina held at love.