Defending champion Coco Gauff’s reign at Roland Garros came to a stunning end on Saturday as Anastasia Potapova produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the American 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 and book her place in the fourth round of the 2026 French Open.
In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, Potapova showed resilience and composure to overcome the second-seeded American in a gripping contest on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The victory marked another milestone in what has become an impressive clay-court season for the world No. 30, who has now won three of her five career meetings against Gauff.
The defeat ended a difficult fortnight for Gauff, who arrived in Paris seeking to defend the title she won last year after defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Her tournament preparations had already been disrupted when she was involved in a minor car accident on her way to the grounds before her opening-round victory over Taylor Townsend. Although she escaped injury, the vehicle was left undrivable.
Saturday’s match unfolded before unusually sparse stands at Philippe-Chatrier, with many French sports fans opting to follow the UEFA Champions League final instead. Despite taking the opening set, Gauff struggled to capitalize on key opportunities as Potapova gradually gained control of the longer rallies.
“She was able to finish the points and I wasn’t,” Gauff admitted after the match. “Just not capitalizing on certain shots.”
The American also expressed frustration at seeing familiar issues resurface in another major defeat.
“I lost the same way in Rome as I did here,” Gauff said. “You never want to lose the same way back-to-back times.”
Potapova’s determination paid off in the deciding set as she matched Gauff stride for stride in extended baseline exchanges before converting her first match point when Gauff sent a forehand long. The Austrian representative immediately collapsed onto the clay in celebration after securing the biggest Grand Slam victory of her career.
“Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much,” Potapova said. “I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am.”
Statistics highlighted the physical intensity of the encounter. Gauff covered 2,309 metres during the match compared to Potapova’s 2,090 metres, but it was Potapova who consistently dictated the critical rallies and forced the defending champion into uncomfortable positions.
Elsewhere, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka survived a stern challenge from 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, battling to a 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4 victory in nearly three hours. The win, achieved in Osaka’s 100th Grand Slam match, set up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka advanced with a commanding 6-0, 7-5 victory over Daria Kasatkina, continuing her pursuit of a first French Open crown. Speaking after her victory, Osaka reflected on the elaborate fashion statements that have become part of her return to the sport.
“It’s a surprise every time,” Osaka said of her outfits.
“For me, it would be weirder to wear a normal tennis kit, almost, at this point. It’s the fun of it. For a long time, I didn’t have fun for a little bit. And you guys know that period of time in my life. Now I just want things to be fun, and I want to make it exciting for myself.”
The tournament also continued to be affected by intense weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius for the seventh consecutive day. Organizers reported that a spectator required medical assistance and was removed from Court Suzanne-Lenglen on a stretcher during Osaka’s match. Forecasts indicate cooler conditions for the second week of the tournament.
In the men’s draw, Juan Manuel Cerundolo followed his sensational victory over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner with another marathon success, defeating Martin Landaluce in five sets after five hours and 58 minutes. The epic contest became the longest French Open match in six years.
Cerundolo will next face Matteo Berrettini, who also survived a gruelling five-set battle against Francisco Comesana. Alejandro Tabilo ended the dream run of 17-year-old French wildcard Moise Kouame, while Flavio Cobolli progressed to a meeting with American surprise package Zachary Svajda.
With Gauff’s exit and Sinner already eliminated, the French Open draw has been dramatically reshaped, opening the door for several contenders as Roland Garros heads into a highly unpredictable second week.
AP
