Defending champion Coco Gauff grew to become the most recent massive title to be eradicated from the French Open, shedding within the third spherical to Anastasia Potapova.
In a match that noticed many swings in momentum, fourth-seeded American Gauff misplaced to Austria’s Potapova 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.
Together with her win over two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff, Potapova reached the fourth spherical at Roland Garros for the second time.
Gauff was eradicated within the first week in Paris, becoming a member of prime males’s seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
The 22-year-old went into Roland Garros with no title in 2026, regardless of beating Aryna Sabalenka in final 12 months’s closing.
Potapova’s very good protection induced issues for Gauff all through, and the 25-year-old was seen holding her shoulder after struggling a number of bruises after the match.
Potapova stated: “I am having just a little cramp, however I am nice, every part is okay. I am speechless proper now. I am very pleased.”
“The struggle that we had been capable of present, each of us – Coco is actually a champion and I’ve a lot respect for her.
“I am extremely proud to have stayed there and fought to the final spot.”
Potapova will face Russia’s twenty second seed Anna Kalinskaya within the final 16 after defeating Camila Osorio 6-3, 0-6, 6-2.
In different matches on Saturday, American No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova misplaced to France’s Diane Parry and withdrew from the event, whereas 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys defeated No. 9 seed Victoria Mboko in three units.
This implies Potapova, Kalinskaja, Parry and Poland’s Maja Czwarinska are all assured to achieve the semi-finals at Roland Garros, however no participant has to date reached the quarter-finals in Paris.
After dropping her first service recreation, Gauff saved two extra break factors from 4-2 down earlier than combating again to win the subsequent 4 video games and snatch the primary set in opposition to Potapova.
Potapova’s deep groundstrokes modified the momentum initially of the second set and induced issues for the defending champion, who opened with a double break.
Down 5-2, Gauff saved two set factors and tied the rating at 5-5, however an unforced error and double fault pressured the match to cease and he or she misplaced within the tiebreak.
Because the third set progressed, Potapova’s glorious protection pressured Gauff into extra errors, her deep looping forehand prolonged the factors, and the Austrian’s tenacity paid off as she secured a vital break and received the match.
“I really feel like I have been practising nicely, however I have not been capable of specific it nicely when it actually issues. Generally I will do it, and generally I do not,” Gauff stated.
“It is one factor to lose, however I do not suppose we misplaced at the moment. I imply, I competed, I fought as exhausting as I may, however I do not suppose I performed the way in which I needed to within the necessary moments.”
“I feel that is most likely the issue too. When you recognize the momentum is in your facet, you must hold your foot on the fuel as an alternative of slowing down just a little bit. And I feel that is what I did.”
