Why was Coco Gauff in tears during her French Open semi-final vs Iga Swiatek?

Coco Gauff was left fighting back tears during her 2024 French Open semi-final with Iga Swiatek, after a second-set row with the umpire.

What happened between Gauff and umpire?

With Gauff trailing by a set to one on Court Philippe Chatrier, a Swiatek serve was incorrectly called out by a line judge as the American swung at her return, which flew out.

The umpire, Aurélie Tourte, immediately overruled the line judge’s call - and deeming that it had not affected Gauff’s ability to hit her return. To the 20-year-old’s astonishment, Tourte awarded the point to Swiatek.

“Are you serious?!”

“He called it before I hit it - I’m 1,000% sure,” an incensed Gauff told the umpire. “I didn’t even finish my follow through. I have the right to finish my swing. Are you serious?!”

As spectators inside Court Philippe Chatrier seemingly jeered in disapproval of the officials’ decision, Gauff told Tourte: “They’re booing because they know you’re wrong.”

Gauff’s disagreement with the umpire didn’t prevent her from winning the game and breaking Swiatek’s serve, leaving her 3-1 up in the second set. However, the Pole then broke the youngster straight back, to leave the leave the set on serve once more.

Swiatek then broke Gauff again, before closing out a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

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Swiatek closer to hat-trick of titles

By beating Gauff, Swiatek clinched a third straight appearance in the final of the French Open, as she chases her fourth women’s singles title at Roland Garros. The 23-year-old, who is the world No. 1, won the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Gauff, meanwhile, missed out on the chance to contest French Open final for the second time in her career, having lost out to Swiatek for the title two years ago.

In Sunday’s final in the French capital, Swiatek will take on Italy’s Jasmine Paolini or the Russian Mirra Andreeva.