American tennis star Coco Gauff confronted umpire Marijana Veljovic during her gruelling first-round match at the 2023 US Open in New York. The 19-year-old, frustrated by repeated time violations against her opponent Laura Siegemund, challenged the umpire amidst mounting tension in the intense encounter.
Gauff’s confrontation unfolded after Siegemund consistently took excessive time on her serve, allowing the shot clock to expire while Gauff was eager to proceed quickly. The standoff ignited a heated moment in what was already a challenging match for the young prodigy.
Time Violations Spark Controversy in Early US Open Match
During the 2023 US Open first round, Coco Gauff found herself trailing a set down against German player Laura Siegemund. Siegemund’s apparent disregard for the time constraints on her serve triggered frustration from Gauff, who preferred a faster pace. The delays continued until Gauff finally approached umpire Marijana Veljovic to express her concerns.
Gauff addressed the umpire directly, questioning the fairness of the situation:
“She went over the clock about four times, you’ve given her a time violation once. How is this fair?”
—Coco Gauff
She emphasized that she maintained a consistent serving tempo herself, stating,
“I’m going at normal speed. I go at medium pace speed.”
—Coco Gauff
Umpire Responds with Point Penalty, Tension Escalates
After Gauff’s intervention, umpire Veljovic issued a point penalty to Siegemund for her repeated time violations. This penalty shifted the momentum, allowing Gauff to take a commanding 5-1 lead in the final set. However, Siegemund fought back to narrow the gap to 5-4 before Gauff ultimately served out the match and advanced to the next round.
The penalty provoked anger from Siegemund, who criticized the umpire’s judgment amid the tension.
“She’s serving extremely fast, almost unreasonably fast, and I’m always here, and one time I go to the towel,”
Siegemund remarked during the match.—Laura Siegemund
Following the match, Siegemund further expressed her disappointment with the treatment she received from the crowd. She felt disrespected and unfairly labeled during the contest, saying:
“I am very, very disappointed with the way the people treated me today.”
—Laura Siegemund
She elaborated on her conduct against the audience:
“I am a fighter, I never did anything against the audience. I stayed calm. I never made not even a gesture against the audience. And they had no respect for me. They treated me bad. They treated me like I was a cheater. Like I was trying sneaky ways to win this match or something. They treated me like I was a bad person.”
—Laura Siegemund
Siegemund contrasted her behaviour with some audience members, remarking:
“But you know there are people who are throwing racquets, who are screaming, who are like making bad gestures toward the audience. I did not one moment in the whole match, and there was a lot of tension going on. Not one moment I did anything.”
—Laura Siegemund
Gauff Admits Reluctance Yet Stands Firm on Umpire Confrontation
Despite her forceful confrontation, Gauff later revealed she does not particularly enjoy challenging officials, reflecting on the stressful incident.
“I really don’t like confrontation all that much,”
she shared.—Coco Gauff
She added that she hesitated throughout the match, trying to determine whether her objections were justified. Eventually, repeated instances convinced her to speak up:
“I was thinking about it the whole match. I wasn’t sure if I was in the right or not until it happened multiple times. Then I was like, ‘Okay, I know I’m in the right.’
—Coco Gauff
Continued Challenges with Umpires Mark Gauff’s Career
Coco Gauff’s dispute with the umpire at the 2023 US Open is part of a series of conflicts she has had with officials in key tournaments. In 2024, during her French Open semifinal, she broke down in tears following an incorrect point call. At the Olympics, another erroneous ruling led to her demanding rule changes after a defeat.
These incidents highlight the pressure and emotional strain young athletes endure during high-stakes matches, especially under the spotlight of major events like the US Open and Olympics.
Gauff’s Rise Continues as She Eyes Further Success
Since that controversial match, Coco Gauff has steadily risen in the tennis world. She currently ranks second globally, although she has yet to capture another major championship. Her performance at the 2025 French Open demonstrates her ongoing potential as she prepares to face home favorite Lois Boisson in the semifinals after beating Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
This progression underscores Gauff’s growth as both a competitor and a figure capable of handling intense moments on court, despite past frustrations and setbacks with officiating.