Croatia's Donna Vekic downs Coco Gauff in Paris

(Photo credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports)

PARIS -- American Coco Gauff's hopes of singles gold at the Olympics evaporated in the third round in a 7-6(7), 6-2 to defeat at the hands of Croatia's Donna Vekic in furnace-like conditions at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old United States' second seed held a 5-2 lead in the opening set but Vekic responded to turn the match on its head with stunning ground strokes a