Gauff after defeat: ‘More work to do’

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Coco Gauff of the U.S. gestures to the crowd after winning a game against Poland’s Iga Swiatek during their final match at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

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Phoenix Mercury WNBA basketball All-Star center Brittney Griner smiles as she answers a question while discussing recent team events during a news conference Monday, June 26, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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FILE - In a photo provided by LIV Golf, Jon Rahm, left, and LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman pose for a photo in New York on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Rahm announced Thursday he’s joining LIV Golf. One of the Spaniard’s biggest worries about moving was that he might get excluded from the Ryder Cup. Golf’s prestigious team event — which pits the best from the U.S. against the best from Europe and where none of the players are paid to play — was considered more-or-less off limits to those who defected to LIV, especially on the European side. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/LIV Golf via AP, File)

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Gauff after defeat: ‘More work to do’

Coco Gauff’s retooled forehand and serve abandoned her in the worst way and at the worst time at the Australian Open. The unforced errors just kept accumulating Tuesday, and so did the double-faults and break points, often followed by a palm placed over her eyes or a slap to a thigh. Add it all up, and Gauff’s trip to Melbourne Park — and her 13-match winning streak that dated to late last season — ended in the quarterfinals. Never able to take control on a hot afternoon in Rod Laver Arena, the 2023 U.S. Open champion was eliminated by No. 11 Paula Badosa of Spain 7-5, 6-4. Using tweaks to some key strokes, and a change to her coaching team after a disappointing end to her title defense in New York in September, the 20-year-old Gauff arrived in Australia with hopes of earning a second Grand Slam title. “Today, I feel like I’m playing with solutions,” Gauff said. “Just a lot more work to do.” Gauff committed 41 unforced errors, including six double-faults and 28 missed forehands. In Thursday’s semis, Badosa will face two-time defending champ and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Griner open to signing with new team

Brittney Griner is testing the free agent market for the first time in her career. The All-Star center started taking meetings Tuesday with multiple teams, according to her agent. WNBA executives were in Miami for the opening of Unrivaled to talk with Griner and other free agents. Griner, 34, has been a free agent before, but always re-signed with the Mercury since she was first drafted by the franchise in 2013 as the No. 1 pick. “I want to show off my skills for free agency,” Griner said of playing in the new league, which seems to be dominated more by guards and wings then post players. Unrivaled has some of the top unrestricted free agents, like Griner and Courtney Vandersloot, as well as a few players who most likely will play on other teams next season despite being given the franchise tag by their current WNBA squad. Negotiations officially began Tuesday and players can sign contracts starting Feb. 1. One free agent who isn’t at Unrivaled is 42-year-old Diana Taurasi. The WNBA’s all-time leading scorer is still weighing her decision on whether to retire or come back for another season.

Norman wants debate vs. Tiger, Rory

Greg Norman says he would win a debate with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on how Saudi-funded LIV Golf has helped them financially. The comment came in an interview with Australian Golf Digest. “When I look back on my past 3 1/2 years, from my past 20 years, oh my gosh, I really have changed the game of golf more than what people realize,” the 69-year-old Norman, above, a two-time British Open champ, told the magazine. Norman’s tenure as LIV CEO ends Aug. 31. Woods and McIlroy were both critical of Norman’s combative tone when LIV Golf launched in 2022, backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia that offered enormous bonus money for players to defect to the rival league. The PGA Tour’s response to LIV Golf was to raise prize money with $20 million signature events and pump more money into the Player Impact Program. “I’d love them to recognize the fact that — like Tiger with his PIP money — that only came because of LIV, right?” Norman said. “... Would I like to sit down with them? Absolutely. And you know what? I’d win the debate.” —AP