A tearful Coco Goff crashed out of the Paris Olympics after a heated row with an umpire by Donna Vecic on Tuesday as Rafael Nadal prepared to return to the backing courts.
With temperatures at Roland Garros soaring into the mid-30s Celsius, officials activated the heat protocol, allowing a 10-minute break between the second and third sets.
In the first match on Court Philippe-Chatier, Vecic defeated Goff 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals, but a long row between the US Open champion and the chair umpire caused overshadowed the match. .
United States flag-bearer Coco Goff got off to a fast start in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics with NBA star LeBron James, but her Croatian rival squandered three set points before winning a first-set tiebreak.
The pair exchanged breaks early in the second set but the match was halted at the end of the sixth game as an emotional Goff pleaded his case to the umpire.
At 30-40, Vekic hit a return to Gough's forehand, which the American flicked into the net.
Vekic's shot was called but the chair umpire overruled the call and awarded Croat the point, giving him a break. Goff argued that his shot was compromised by the initial call.
"I have to advocate for myself all the time," a tearful Goff, 20, said in court. "I'm cheating at this game. You guys don't treat me fair."
Later, Coco Gauff called for a video review system at Roland Garros to match those at other Grand Slam venues.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel.
I can't say if I had won the point I would have won the match but definitely, not having a break, while replaying that point could have made a big difference in the game she said.
The 21st-ranked Vekic briefly lost her composure, slipping to 0-40 on her own serve before recovering to hold and break again to seal victory.
The Wimbledon semi-finalist said the row at the line call was a difficult situation.
After that, the crowd, it wasn't that easy he said. I lost my focus for a few points, but I'm glad I was able to get back into the game because it was an important game.
Defending men's champion Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated 39th-ranked Czech Tomas Machak 6-3, 7-5 to reach the third round.
In the women's draw, three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber of Germany advanced to the quarter-finals along with American eighth seed Danielle Collins and China's Zheng Qinwen.
Women's world number one Iga Swiatek set her sights on a 24th consecutive win on the Paris clay courts against China's Wang Xiyu in the evening session.
14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal was ousted in straight sets by old rival Novak Djokovic in the pair's 60th meeting on Monday.
The 38-year-old, immortalized in a statue at Roland Garros, has been plagued by injuries in recent years and is now ranked 161st in the world.
Rafael Nadal said after his painful defeat to Djokovic that he will decide his future after the Paris Olympics.
But the Spaniard, who won singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and doubles gold in Rio in 2016, could still clinch a doubles medal alongside reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
They will face the Dutch pair of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof.
Britain's three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, playing his final tournament, is later in action with doubles partner Dan Evans.
