Paris Olympics: US Flag-bearer Gauff Out In Singles, Swiatek Advances

 PARIS, July 31 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- The first big shock of the tennis Olympic tournament occurred in the third round of the women's singles when a tearful Coco Gauff was beaten 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 by Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic.

Gauff, a US flag-bearer in the opening ceremony, had led 5-2 in the opening set but Croatian Vekic fought back and then broke for 4-2 in the second on a contentious point, the German news agency (dpa) reported.

The referee over-ruled a Vekic shot that had been called out and awarded her the point after deciding Gauff, who subsequently missed her shot, had not been affected by the call.

Gauff, who experienced a similar situation at the French Open, complained bitterly to the referee and supervisor, claiming she was being "cheated."

Fourth seed Jasmine Paolini was unable to repeat her French Open and Wimbledon final runs, losing 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova, who will next meet the player who beat Paolini to the title in SW19, Barbora Krejcikova.

Top seed Iga Swiatek continued to look the hot favourite, beating Wang Xiyu 6-3, 6-4, while seventh seed Maria Sakkari was upset by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

Meanwhile, German Angelique Kerber, who will retire after this event, and American Danielle Collins, who is playing her final season, are both through to the quarter-finals.

In the men's event, Tokyo gold medallist Alexander Zverev saw off Czech Tomas Machac 6-3, 7-5 while Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, playing under a neutral flag eased to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sebastian Ofner. 

British singles hopes ended as Jack Draper lost 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 6-2 to seventh seed Taylor Fritz of the US.

-- BERNAMA-dpa