PARIS — In a thrilling showdown, Coco Gauff encountered a challenger in Paris whose relentless court coverage matched her own during intense baseline exchanges.
Anastasia Potapova shattered Gauff’s hopes of defending her French Open title in the third round, clinching victory with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Saturday.
“Coco represents true championship spirit, and I have immense respect for her,” Potapova expressed. “I am incredibly proud to have fought through every point, and here I stand.”
The exhilarating match took place in a somewhat sparse Court Philippe-Chatrier, as many French fans opted to support their teams in the Champions League soccer final.
Gauff, who captured her second Grand Slam title by defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final at Roland Garros, could not find her footing this time around.
Currently ranked 30th, Potapova, who represents Austria but was born in Russia, improved her record against Gauff to 3-2, showcasing impressive form by reaching the finals in Linz and the semifinals in Madrid as a qualifier.
Gauff, now ranked fourth, was coming off a strong Italian Open performance, reaching the finals.
When Gauff shanked a forehand on Potapova’s first match point, Potapova joyfully collapsed to the ground, covering her eyes with her hands as she kicked her feet in celebration.
With a wave to the audience, Gauff made her exit as the match concluded.
Despite not making significant errors — hitting three double faults compared to Potapova’s eight and tallying 46 unforced errors to her opponent’s 56 — it was Potapova who commanded the more extended rallies, keeping Gauff on her toes.
Gauff covered an impressive distance of 2,309 meters (yards), while Potapova managed 2,090.
Osaka’s Style Statement
Earlier in the day, Naomi Osaka triumphed over 18-year-old American Iva Jovic with a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4 victory in her 100th Grand Slam match, setting her up for a clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the next round.
Sabalenka breezed past Daria Kasatkina with a 6-0, 7-5 win.
For the second consecutive match, Osaka dazzled in a metallic gold bomber jacket layered over a sequined gold playing dress during her entrance, accented by a flowing tannish-gold train that cascaded to the clay of Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
In her opening match, Osaka had wowed the crowd in a ceremonial black skirt paired with a sleeveless beaded bodice before unveiling her gold dress, which she described as reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower at night. Her attire for this match continued the theme of celebration, featuring a bomber jacket and an ivory-colored train.
“For me, it feels almost strange to wear a traditional tennis outfit at this point,” Osaka admitted, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process. “After going through tough times, I now prioritize fun in tennis and want to create excitement for myself.”
The talented player meticulously plans her outfits a year and a half ahead of time, undergoing at least four fitting sessions to ensure a perfect fit.
“We have numerous fittings to account for weight changes or slight fabric alterations,” she explained. “The effort involved is substantial.”
For the seventh consecutive day, players contended with hot and humid conditions, as temperatures soared to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). A change in weather is anticipated for Sunday, coinciding with the tournament’s second week.
During Osaka’s match, a spectator was unfortunately carried out of the stadium on a stretcher due to apparent illness.
On the court, French player Diane Parry outlasted 2019 semifinalist Amanda Anisimova, winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3). Meanwhile, Diana Shnaider from Russia overcame Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine with a 7-5, 6-1 victory, despite a recent social media controversy between the two regarding Russian propaganda.
In men’s matches, Alejandro Tabilo put an end to the tournament run of 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory. Additionally, 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini endured an intense 5-hour and 13-minute battle to defeat Francisco Comesana 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13).
After clinching the win on his fourth match point when Comesana’s shot sailed long, Berrettini celebrated passionately, only to be overwhelmed with emotion and tears.
Flavio Cobolli cruised past Learner Tien with a straight-set victory of 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 and will next face the underdog American Zachary Svajda, who bested Francisco Cerundolo in a gripping five-setter.
Looming next, Felix Auger-Aliassime prepares to face American Brandon Nakashima. At fourth in the rankings, Auger-Aliassime stands as the highest-seeded player remaining in the upper half of the draw following the shocking exit of Jannik Sinner two days prior.
In response to safety concerns, organizers have now repositioned the small advertising boards behind the line judges, following an incident where Turkish player Zeynep Sönmez had to withdraw from a doubles match due to tripping over one of the boards.
