Gauff’s French Open defense ends as Osaka advances

Coco Gauff’s French Open title defense ended in the third round as Anastasia Potapova beat her 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4. Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, kept moving with a three-set win over Iva Jovic to reach a round-of-16 meeting with Aryna Sabalenka as heat and on-court i

PARIS — Coco Gauff waved toward the stands after her moment of relief didn’t last. then walked off the court quickly once the point was over. Her French Open title defense had ended in the third round. and the margin wasn’t about a flurry of errors from the American—it was the longer rallies. the patient finishing. and Anastasia Potapova’s control.

Potapova won 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Saturday, becoming the player in Paris who could match Gauff’s baseline intensity. Gauff said Potapova “was able to finish the points and I wasn’t,” and added, “Just not capitalizing on certain shots.”

The match unfolded before mostly empty seats inside Court Philippe-Chatrier, with French fans staying away to watch the Champions League soccer final.

Gauff’s second Grand Slam title arrived at Roland Garros a year ago. when she beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the final. This time, she was the fourth-ranked player and was coming off a run to the Italian Open final. In Rome, she had been beaten by Elina Svitolina—another opponent described as able to match her on long rallies.

“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, ranked 30th, was born in Russia but now represents Austria. She improved to 3-2 in her career against Gauff and is having a clay season that includes reaching a final in Linz, Austria, and the semifinals of the Madrid Open after entering as a qualifier.

The decisive moment didn’t look like a tactic so much as a swing in momentum. When Gauff shanked a forehand wide on Potapova’s first match point, Potapova fell on her back and covered her eyes as she celebrated with her feet in the air. Gauff waved to the crowd and then left the court.

“Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much,” Potapova said. “I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am.”

Gauff’s loss wasn’t framed as a collapse of mistakes. She hit three double-faults to Potapova’s eight and had 46 unforced errors to Potapova’s 56. What changed, Gauff ran into the kind of resistance that stretches time on clay: Potapova controlled more in the longer rallies and wore her out.

The physical scale of it showed up in the numbers—Gauff ran a total of 2,309 meters (yards) to Potapova’s 2,090.

Osaka’s fashion statement continued as play moved to the next round for her, too. Naomi Osaka beat 18-year-old American opponent Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4 after nearly three hours. It was her 100th Grand Slam match, and it set up a round-of-16 meeting with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka also advanced after beating Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5.

For her second straight match. Osaka wore a metallic gold bomber jacket over a sequined gold playing dress during her walk-on. This time. her outfit included a tannish-gold colored train that stretched all the way down to the red clay on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Osaka said, “It’s a surprise every time.”.

“For me, it would be weirder to wear a normal tennis kit, almost, at this point. It’s the fun of it,” Osaka said. She also referenced a difficult period in her life—when. in 2021. she withdrew from the French Open because of issues with anxiety and depression. “Now I just want things to be fun, and I want to make it exciting for myself.”.

She said her outfits are planned a year and a half in advance and require at least four fittings. “We have so many fittings throughout the year because your weight can fluctuate or the fabric can change a little bit,” Osaka said. “There is a lot of effort that goes into it.”

Even with the drama on court, the day’s atmosphere was shaped by the weather. For the seventh straight day of the tournament, it was hot and humid, with the temperature rising to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). Organizers expect the heat to break for Sunday and the second week.

Midway through Osaka’s victory, a spectator was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher because of an apparent illness.

Other matches carried their own tension. French player Diane Parry beat 2019 semifinalist Amdanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3). Diana Shnaider of Russia defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine 7-5. 6-1 after Oliynykova accused her of liking Russian propaganda posts on social media amid the war between their countries.

In men’s action, Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory.

Juan Manuel Cerundolo followed up his stunning victory over top-ranked Jannik Sinner with another five-set win. beating Martin Landaluce 6-4. 6-7 (7). 7-6 (4). 6-7 (4). 7-6 (8) in 5 hours. 58 minutes—the longest French Open match in six years. Cerundolo will next meet 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. who required 5 hours. 13 minutes to defeat Francisco Comesana 7-6 (3). 5-7. 6-7 (4). 6-4. 7-6 (13).

Flavio Cobolli beat Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 and will next meet unsung American Zachary Svajda, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.

Later, Felix Auger-Aliassime plays American opponent Brandon Nakashima. At No. 4, Auger-Aliassime is the highest-seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw after Sinner’s defeat.

Organizers also made a visible safety change after complaints: they moved the small advertising boards at the back of the court to behind the line judges.

Gauff will not be part of the second week in Paris. Osaka—and her carefully planned walk-on statement—will be, chasing her shot at Sabalenka after a win measured not just in sets, but in timing, tempo, and the ability to keep going through nearly three hours.

French Open Coco Gauff Anastasia Potapova Naomi Osaka Iva Jovic Aryna Sabalenka Roland Garros tennis Paris