SafeX Pro Exchange|2024 Olympics: Coco Gauff Tears Up After Controversial Call From Tennis Umpire

Coco Gauff made a passionate argument in her own defense after an Olympic umpire made a call she deemed unfair.

At the 2024 Olympics on SafeX Pro ExchangeJuly 30, the 20-year-old faced off against Croatia's Donna Vekic during the third round of the women's singles match at the Roland-Garros Stadium.

Amid the match, the line judge called a shot from Vekic out of bounds despite it actually being in. Due to the call, Gauff did not return the ball, hitting it into the net. The chair umpire, Jaume Campistol, gave Vekic the point, saying Gauff shouldn't have been affected by the out of bounds call. 

Gauff approached the umpire on the court, questioning the call and telling him, "You called it before I hit the ball." 

Campistol seemed to go back on his call, saying, "I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying the way I'm seeing it."

The tearful tennis pro replied, "What do you mean? You have to be 100 percent sure."

To which Campistol doubled down. "Well, I am 100 percent sure, but now you're telling me the opposite," he said. "That's why, I know I'm wrong, but I cannot make my decision after you up here." 

The vocal crowd cheered Gauff on as she continued attempting to defend herself. 

Calling out the umpire's apparent uncertainty, Gauff challenged, "You just said, 'Maybe I'm wrong.'" 

His response wasn't exactly helpful to Gauff. "Well, based on your reaction," he said. "I might be wrong."

As Gauff teared up in frustration, a referee came over, defending the chair umpire's call. 

"I never argue calls and you know this, but this isn't fair. I feel like I'm getting cheated on constantly in this game and I have to argue," a visibly emotional Gauff said. "It always happens to me on this court. I have to advocate for myself every time."

Gauff also claimed that she has received previous apologies due to bad calls on the court. 

"Then you guys apologize afterwards, and you guys say, 'I'm sorry,'" Gauff accused. "But then what does that do for me in the match?"

Though the line judge claimed the apparent bias toward Gauff was "not intentional," the American athelete fired back, "OK, it's not intentional. It happens to me. It happens to Serena [Williams]."

After a lengthy back and forth, Gauff walked back toward the court weeping, saying, "You guys are not fair to me, and I hope that one day the game becomes fair, but it's not."

As Gauff returned, the spectators boo'd, seemingly upset with the umpire's call. 

Gauff went on to lose the singles match against Vekic 7-6, 6-2. The loss caused her to be eliminated from the women's singles round.

After the match, Gauff spoke to reporters about the call. "I felt that they called it before I hit," she said. "I don’t think the ref disagreed. I think he just thought it didn’t, like, affect my swing, which I felt like it did."

Her road to gold isn’t over yet. She still has the opportunity to secure a doubles and mixed doubles medal. 

Until then read on to get to know more of Team USA. 

Team Great Britain divers Tom Daley and Noah Williams shared a hilarious moment as they picked up silver for synchronized diving.

Ronald Zabala-Goetschel of Ecuador had a less than terrific time competing in the equestrian competition. 

Team USA swimmer Katie Grimes gave us all double vision.

Lauren Scruggs, Lee Kiefer and Eleanor Harvey of Team USA and Team Canada's foil teams celebrated their Olympic medal wins with the iconic biting of the medal.

Denmark and Norway delivered during the preliminary handball competition.

Frida Andersen of Sweden went for an epic jump during the equestrian competition. 

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal celebrated a win in their first double match. 

Lebron James made winning look easy. 

USA fencer Lee Kiefer celebrated her win against China's Huang Qianqian. 

Vietnam's Ha Thi Ling took a punch from Tonga's Feofaaki Epenis. 

Gymnastics champion Simone Biles gave a shoutout to her fans at the gymnastics qualifyers on day two of the 2024 Olympics.

Surfer John John Florence of Team USA got jiggy with it as he and his teammates celebrated the Opening Ceremony in French Polynesia.

Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci shared an excited moment with French Tennis player Amelie Mauresmo during the torch ceremony.

Team Japan didn't let the downpour soak their spirits as they lived it up during the Opening Ceremony.

Team New Zealand was clearly in a celebratory mood as they sailed down the Seine during the Opening Ceremony.

Surfer Saffi Vette of Team New Zealand maked sure to pour carefully as she partook in the sand ceremony in French Polynesia.

Team USA landed an incredible moment during the 2024 Opening Ceremony as they marked the start of the games in Paris.

Recently appointed official Hype Man for USA Water Polo Women’s and Men’s National Teams Flavor Flav looked the part while attending the Games in full water polo garb. 

Snoop Dogg greeted the crowds as he held the torch ahead of the Opening Ceremony. 

Malaysia's Johnathan Guanjie Wong was ready for a bullseye as he practiced shooting. 

Sweden's Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzle waved a quick hello as they practiced for women's skiff racing. 

Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attempted to stay dry as they took in the Parade of Nations on Paris' River Seine. 

USA's Caroline Marks got in some training time in Tahiti where the 2024 surfing events are taking place.  

Sibel Altinkaya of Turkey had her eyes on the prize—and the ball—ahead of her table tennis games. 

The U.S. women's Olympic tennis team—featuring Emma Navarro, Danielle Collins, Jessica Pegula, Desirae Krawczyk, Coco Gauff—aced a quick selfie. 

USA's Jagger Eaton prepared for his second Olympics after earning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. 

Henry Hutchinson of Australia scored a try in his game against Samoa.

Simone Biles practiced on a balance beam while training for the 2024 Olympics.

The French and American men's rugby teams fought over possession. 

Frederick Richard hit the gymnastics floor to train on the parallel bars.