Coco Gauff Exits French Open After Third-Round Loss to Anastasia Potapova

Coco Gauff, the defending French Open champion, was defeated in the third round by Anastasia Potapova in a match marked by significant momentum swings. Gauff, who won last year's final against Aryna Sabalenka, struggled against Potapova's strong defensive play, ultimately losing 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.

The match saw Gauff initially take the first set but then face a strong comeback from Potapova, who secured the second set in a tie-break. Potapova's persistence and defensive skills paid off in the third set, where she managed to break Gauff's serve decisively.

Gauff's exit follows those of men's top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, highlighting a tournament with several early upsets. Potapova, now set to play Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round, expressed pride in her performance, noting the challenging but successful fight against a tough opponent.

Other notable exits include American sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, who lost to France's Diane Parry, and the advancement of 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys, who defeated ninth seed Victoria Mboko in three sets. The tournament's progression indicates that one of Potapova, Kalinskaya, Parry, or Maja Chwalinska will reach the semi-finals, all of whom are seeking their first quarter-final appearance in Paris.

Gauff reflected on her loss, acknowledging her struggle to translate practice form into match performance, especially in crucial moments, and recognizing the need to maintain momentum when ahead.