Defending champion Coco Gauff suffered a stunning third-round exit from the French Open on Saturday after losing 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 to Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at French Open.
Potapova delivered an impressive performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, using powerful baseline shots and aggressive returning to unsettle the American from the outset. The Russian broke Gauff’s serve in the opening game without conceding a point and raced into a 4-2 lead after the defending champion slipped while chasing a shot.
Despite the shaky start, Gauff recovered strongly to claim the opening set, displaying the resilience that helped her capture last year’s title at Roland Garros.
However, Potapova responded immediately in the second set, increasing the pressure and targeting Gauff’s vulnerable serve. The Russian secured two early breaks and surged to a 5-2 advantage, appearing on course to level the match comfortably.
Gauff mounted a spirited comeback, winning four consecutive games to move within touching distance of victory. Yet Potapova held her nerve, forcing a tiebreak and capitalizing on a series of serving errors from the American to take the set and push the contest into a decider.
The final set proved a tense affair as both players exchanged breaks of serve. But with momentum on her side, Potapova produced some of her best tennis in the closing stages, dictating rallies from the baseline and forcing mistakes from the world No. 4.
As Gauff struggled to regain her rhythm, Potapova seized control and completed one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, ending the American’s title defense and securing a place in the fourth round.
The victory sends Potapova through to face fellow Russian Anna Kalinskaya, the tournament’s 22nd seed, for a place in the quarterfinals.
For Gauff, the defeat marks an early and unexpected end to her campaign at Roland Garros, where she arrived among the favorites to retain the title. The 22-year-old’s inconsistent serving proved costly throughout the match, particularly during the crucial moments of the second and third sets.
Potapova’s triumph continues a breakthrough run in Paris and underlines her growing reputation as one of the most dangerous competitors on the women’s tour.
