Coco Gauff battled through a tense and error-strewn encounter to defeat fellow American Madison Keys and secure her place in the French Open semi-finals. In a match that saw a staggering 101 unforced errors and 14 breaks of serve, the second seed eventually prevailed 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 after two hours and 11 minutes on court.
Gauff had breezed through the earlier rounds without dropping a set, but this quarter-final clash presented her first real test. Facing Keys, a seasoned campaigner and current Australian Open champion, Gauff was forced to dig deep and find a way to win despite a rocky performance marked by inconsistency on serve and fluctuating momentum.
The match began in nervy fashion, with both players struggling to hold serve. Gauff quickly found herself trailing 4-1 in the first set, only to claw her way back and even earn a set point at 5-4. However, she was unable to convert, and the set went to a tie-break. Keys held her nerve better in the breaker, clinching it 8-6 to take the lead.
In the second set, it looked as though Gauff had regained her composure, racing to a 4-1 advantage. But Keys responded, breaking back and threatening to seize control. Gauff eventually managed to steady herself, breaking again and holding serve to push the match into a deciding third set.
It was in the final set that Gauff finally found a rhythm. While Keys’ level dipped significantly, the younger American began to clean up her service games and cut down on the errors. After committing nine double faults in the first two sets, Gauff managed to sharpen her delivery just in time. A well-placed passing shot down the line earned her triple match point, and Keys sent a return long on the next rally, sealing the win for Gauff.
After the match, Gauff reflected on the challenging battle and credited her resilience. She acknowledged Keys’ aggressive play, remarking on the speed and flatness of her opponent’s shots. Determined not to let herself be dictated to, Gauff focused on fighting for every point and pouncing on any short balls.
At just 21, Gauff is now into her second French Open semi-final, having previously reached the final in 2022. Her win over Keys also marked a historic milestone she became the youngest woman to reach 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis achieved the feat between 1995 and 2000.
Standing between Gauff and another final appearance is French wild card Loïs Boisson. The 21-year-old local hope delivered one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating rising Russian talent Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (8), 6-3 in the second quarter-final. Boisson’s blend of aggressive baseline play and crowd-fuelled momentum could provide a unique challenge for Gauff, who will have to cope with both the occasion and a partisan crowd.
As Gauff prepares for her semi-final clash, she will be looking to clean up her game and build on the momentum she generated in the third set against Keys. With her sights set firmly on a maiden French Open title, she knows that every match from here on will demand both mental fortitude and sharp execution.
