USA's Coco Gauff reacts after a point against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina during their women's singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27, 2026. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --
Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff lost in three sets to Austrian Anastasia Potapova to end her Roland Garros title defence on Saturday.
“I think at the US Open it did a lot more but honestly this time it didn’t. I wasn’t really nervous,” fourth seed Gauff told reporters.
“That’s what’s more frustrating because I felt like I learned a lot from that US Open experience and I’m a better player since then and I just don’t think I portrayed that today.”
Potapova responded with two consecutive breaks of her own to race 3-0 ahead at the start of the second frame.
The 25-year-old’s serve then deserted her as well, as the next five games all produced breaks, with Potapova passing up two set points behind her own delivery.
The two-time major winner broke the world number 30 to level at 5-5 before holding again.
But Potapova then refound her own serve to force a tie-break.
A double fault dropped Gauff 5-0 behind, before she finally got on the board when Potapova overcooked a backhand.
Gauff drew first blood in the decider, pouncing on Potapova’s serve in the third game to nose in front, before being pegged back to 3-3.
A double fault in the next game brought Gauff two break-back points, but gutsy play allowed Potapova to hold.
A booming backhand winner down the line and a miss-hit Gauff forehand from deuce put Potapova 5-4 ahead with the world number four serving to keep her title defence alive.
But from 30-0, Gauff quickly unravelled and Potapova fell on her back in celebration as the American returned long and departed the tournament.
“I think I’ve had a few (big wins) before, but I’d put it top three for sure,” Potapova said on court after earning a career third win over Gauff.
Potapova said the secret to victory for her was ignoring the score.
“I kept on saying to myself that I don’t need to focus on the scoreboard, just focus on every point,” she said.
“If you manage to do that, then maybe I will get my chances to win. So, yeah, the key was just stay in the moment no matter what is going on and try your best.
Potapova will meet Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in the quarter-finals.
AFP
