RismadarVoice Reporters
September 6, 2026
American tennis star Coco Gauff has warned young fans against copying her emotional reaction after she struck herself with a ball during her US Open third-round victory over Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.
Gauff advanced to the fourth round after defeating Bucsa 6-3, 6-4, but a moment of frustration during the match drew attention when she repeatedly hit herself on the head with a tennis ball.
Speaking after the match, the fourth seed admitted the action was not something she wanted to encourage and said athletes should find healthier ways to manage frustration.
“It’s definitely not something I want to do,” Gauff said, adding that her team and she were both unhappy with the habit. She also advised young players not to imitate the behaviour.
The 22-year-old explained that while players sometimes avoid breaking rackets because of potential fines, directing frustration towards themselves is not a better alternative.
Gauff said she would continue working on controlling her reactions during difficult moments on court.
The incident occurred during a challenging match in which Bucsa initially took a 3-1 lead after benefiting from a Gauff double fault. However, the American recovered strongly, winning five consecutive games to take the opening set 6-3.
The second set remained competitive until Gauff secured a crucial break at 4-3 before closing out the match by winning the final eight points.
The victory extended Gauff’s winning streak to nine matches and marked her fifth consecutive appearance in the US Open fourth round.
The American has previously experienced similar moments of frustration this season. During the Italian Open, she hit herself with her racket after losing the opening set against Solana Sierra, before recovering to win the match.
She also smashed her racket after a quarter-final defeat to Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open.
Gauff has acknowledged that managing emotions remains an important part of her development as a top-level player, particularly because of the influence she has on younger fans.
The reigning Grand Slam champion will next face fellow American teenager Iva Jovic, who defeated Alexandra Eala in a three-hour contest to reach the next round.
Jovic, 18, previously lost to Gauff in Rome earlier in the year but said she was prepared for the challenge.
Gauff enters the match aiming to continue her strong run at the tournament where she won her first Grand Slam title in 2023.
