New Delhi: American sensation Coco Gauff entered the fourth round of women’s singles at the French Open 2025 after beating Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 7-6(3) in a thrilling, energy-sapping third-round clash in Paris on Saturday.
Gauff staged a brilliant comeback in the second set to hold her nerves and wrap up a straight-sets victory against the Czech star in the third round.
Gauff cruised to a comfortable 6-1 victory in the first set in what was a remarkable start from the world no.2. However, Bouzkova made the most of Gauff’s faulty serves to pull off a strong comeback in the second set. The Czech star went 2-0 up in the second set before the American rallied back to make it 2-1. However, Bouzkova seemed close to forcing a third set when she went 3-1 up.
But just when it looked like Gauff might drop her first set in the French Open 2025, she fought back to level things at 5-5. The world no.2 was gritty and resilient as she fended off the challenge from Bouzkova to hold and force a tie break. She sealed the tie break comfortably to seal a 6-1, 7-6(3) victory. Gauff will take on Ekaterina Alexandrova in the women’s singles 4th round for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday, June 02.
Although Gauff gave no chance to world no.47 Bouzkova in the opening set, the 21-year-old came under immense pressure in the shaky second set. Gauff recovered just in time to force a tie-break and dominated in the tie-breaker to continue her march towards her maiden French Open title. Gauff reached her maiden Rolland Garros final in 2022, where she lost to Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
“She was playing well, putting a lot of balls back in the court (in the second set). It was difficult but overall happy I how I was able to stay in that,” Gauff said after the game.
“In the first set I was playing good. In the second I missed some balls. She put a lot of balls back. Every opponent that plays her struggles with that,” she added.
Madison Keys beats Sofia Kenin
Meanwhile, reigning Australian champion Madison Keys came from behind to beat Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in an all-American 3rd-round clash at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen to enter the fourth round. Keys was tested by Kenin throughout the encounter, but prevailed in a three-setter to set up meeting with another American, Hailey Baptiste in the 4th round.