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Arthur Ashe Stadium fell into an unusual silence as Coco Gauff's US Open campaign came to an end, despite the American star receiving overwhelming support from a crowd desperate to see her reach the final.
Gauff, the only American woman remaining in the tournament after Jessica Pegula's defeat to Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the evening, faced Elena Rybakina in a fiercely contested semifinal. The 22 year old entered the match carrying not only the hopes of American tennis fans but also the affection of a home crowd that has embraced her since her breakthrough victory at the US Open in 2023.
The match initially appeared to be moving in Gauff's favour. The Arthur Ashe crowd erupted with chants of "Co Co! Co Co!" after she won the fourth game of the opening set. The atmosphere reflected the special relationship between the player and the New York audience.
However, Rybakina gradually found her rhythm and fought back to win 3 6, 6 4, 6 4. The victory made Rybakina the new world number one and secured her place in the final.
Even as the match slipped away from Gauff, the crowd refused to abandon her. In the decisive set, chants of "Come on, Coco!" became increasingly urgent as she fought to stay alive. When Gauff broke Rybakina's serve, spectators immediately rose to their feet, believing another comeback might be possible.
The final moments, however, belonged to Rybakina. Gauff's last attempt at a volley sailed long, bringing the contest to an abrupt conclusion.
Rybakina acknowledged the support Gauff received, saying she understood that most of the crowd had been behind her opponent. For Gauff, the defeat was particularly painful because of how much the tournament means to her.
"I don't care about the summer," she said after the match, responding to her father's reminder of her successful run throughout the season. "This is the tournament I want to perform at."
Her words captured the emotional weight of the defeat. Gauff had not simply wanted to win another match. She wanted to win on the court where she had already created one of the defining moments of her career.
The US Open crowd eventually emptied the stadium, leaving behind the memory of a dramatic night in which its favourite fought until the very last point.
