Coco crunched!

A real struggle: Coco Gauff of the United States returning a shot to Croatia’s Donna Vekic during the third-round match. Inset: Vekic celebrating after beating Gauff. — AP/Reuters

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.