PARIS — In a thrilling showdown, Coco Gauff triumphed over Madison Keys with a score of 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 at the French Open on Wednesday, showcasing her resilience after enduring 10 double-faults and dropping her first set of the tournament. This victory marks her return to the semifinals for an impressive third time.
The match proved to be a rollercoaster of errors from both American players, each of whom has a Grand Slam title to their name. Together, they amassed a staggering 101 unforced errors and only 40 winners in a contest that spanned over two hours under the closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier, as drizzle accompanied the chilly Parisian day.
As the No. 2 seed, Gauff clinched the 2023 U.S. Open title and was the runner-up at the 2022 French Open. On Thursday, she’ll be vying for a spot in yet another Grand Slam final, facing either the sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva or French wildcard entry Loïs Boisson, ranked 361st.
“I have much more to accomplish,” Gauff declared, lifting her arms high in celebration after sealing the win against Keys. “But today, I’m going to take a moment to appreciate this victory.”
Gauff’s start was rocky; she fell behind 4-1 and narrowly avoided a 5-1 hole. With every mistake, her frustration was palpable as she bowed her head and sighed. However, she quickly turned the tide, employing her speed and sharp instincts to outmaneuver Keys, forcing the Australian Open champion to miss critical shots.
At one point, Gauff even came within reach of winning the set, but three double-faults in the tiebreaker sent her to the locker room to regroup after a tumultuous first set.
The initial set was riddled with errors, as Gauff managed just seven winners against 21 unforced errors, while Keys registered 12 winners but with a staggering 28 unforced errors, 19 of which stemmed from her fierce forehand.
“I knew I needed to be nimble today,” Gauff reflected. “Whenever the ball came short, my goal was to capitalize on it.”
Time and again, Gauff displayed incredible court coverage, reaching for shots that would typically conclude points against other competitors. Her persistence often paid off, leading to errors from Keys, who found herself occasionally chiding her performance with a frustrated slap to her leg.
“With her exceptional skills in covering the court,” Keys acknowledged, “you find that you have to win the point multiple times before it’s truly over.”
