Defending champion Coco Gauff suffered a stunning third-round exit at the French Open, falling to Anastasia Potapova in a dramatic three-set match. The American fourth seed, who won her second Grand Slam title in Paris last year, lost 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 to the Austrian player, who secured arguably the biggest win of her career.
Gauff's Struggles Continue
Gauff appeared to have turned the match around after a slow start but was never fully comfortable. Her serve, a persistent issue this season, let her down at crucial moments. Potapova, seeded 28th, has been one of the form players on clay this spring and maintained her momentum despite trailing 3-1 in the final set. The match featured 14 breaks of serve, and the final twist saw Potapova rally to victory.
Gauff's early exit follows that of world number two Elena Rybakina, leaving Iga Swiatek as the only former champion remaining in the women's draw.
Sabalenka and Osaka Set for Blockbuster Clash
World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant form, beating Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 without dropping a set. She will face Naomi Osaka in the fourth round after Osaka edged past American teenager Iva Jovic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4. Osaka reached the last 16 in Paris for the first time, setting up a fourth meeting with Sabalenka.
Osaka won their first encounter in 2018 en route to her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, but Sabalenka has won the last two, including a close battle on clay in Madrid last month. Osaka acknowledged the challenge, saying, "I feel like I played a pretty good match in Madrid. Hopefully I can keep the consistency and stay aggressive."
Night Session Debate Continues
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has faced criticism for not scheduling women's matches in the single night session on Court Philippe Chatrier, with the last one occurring in 2023. Whether the Sabalenka-Osaka match will be chosen remains uncertain. Osaka expressed mixed feelings, noting, "I understand it would be a popcorn match, but I'm so used to not playing night matches here."
Sabalenka welcomed the challenge, stating, "It's great to see her back at her level. I really enjoy our battles when someone pushes me to the limit."
French Hope Parry Triumphs
France's Diane Parry delivered the result of the day, defeating Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10/3). Parry arrived at her press conference wearing a Paris Saint-Germain shirt, much to the delight of local fans.
