Defending champion Coco Gauff was surprisingly eliminated at Roland Garros, falling to Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the third round. Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka swept past Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 to book her spot in the fourth round.
On Court Philippe Chatrier, Gauff failed to find her best form after a series of upsets at the clay-court Grand Slam, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both ousted earlier. Potapova applied relentless pressure from the baseline, breaking in the very first game and surging to a 4-2 lead when Gauff slipped while chasing a shot. Although Gauff leveled at 4-4, she could not maintain consistency in the crucial moments.
“I don’t know. I had my chances. I just tried to take the positives, but she finished points and I didn’t,” Gauff said after the 2-hour-37-minute loss. Potapova, who suffered mild cramping, commented: “Coco is a true champion, and I’m very proud that I fought until the last point.”
With Gauff out, four-time champion Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka have emerged as the top title contenders. Sabalenka’s win over Kasatkina was her 100th victory as a WTA world No. 1, placing her among legends such as Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Justine Henin, and Swiatek. “I got goosebumps. It means so much that in tough moments, I fought and didn’t give up,” Sabalenka said.
In other matches, Matteo Berrettini outlasted Francisco Comesana 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(15-13) after 5 hours and 13 minutes, while Juan Manuel Cerundolo defeated Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(10-8) in nearly six hours. Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of French teen Moise Kouame 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11-9), but local fans celebrated as Diane Parry beat No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10-3). Madison Keys edged Victoria Mboko 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, and Naomi Osaka defeated Iva Jovic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4.
