At the French Open, Coco Gauff faced a formidable opponent who matched her in stamina and skill. Anastasia Potapova ended Gauff’s title defense, defeating her in the third round with scores of 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4. Potapova expressed her respect for Gauff, stating, “Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much. I’m unbelievably proud of myself as well that I stayed there, that I’ve been fighting for the last point and here I am.” Despite lopsided attendance at Court Philippe-Chatrier with many fans opting to watch the Champions League final, the match was intense.
Last year, Gauff won her second Grand Slam by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros. Currently ranked fourth, she previously reached the final of the Italian Open. In contrast, the 30th-ranked Potapova, representing Austria though born in Russia, has excelled during the clay season. She reached the final in Linz, Austria, and the semifinals of the Madrid Open as a qualifier, bringing her career record against Gauff to 3-2.
Potapova sealed her victory when Gauff’s forehand went wide on match point. In celebration, Potapova fell on her back, covering her eyes with her feet in the air. Gauff, disappointed, gave a quick wave to the crowd and exited the court. The match was not defined by errors; Gauff had three double-faults while Potapova had eight, and with 46 unforced errors compared to Potapova’s 56. Potapova’s control in longer rallies proved decisive. Gauff ran 2,309 meters during the match compared to Potapova’s 2,090 meters.
Naomi Osaka’s Fashion Highlights
Naomi Osaka advanced to a round-of-16 match against Aryna Sabalenka after defeating 18-year-old Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4. Her match came during her 100th Grand Slam appearance, lasting nearly three hours. For her entry, Osaka garnered attention with a metallic gold bomber jacket and a sequined gold dress paired with a tan-gold train that extended to the clay court, asserting, “It’s a surprise every time.” Osaka emphasized the importance of enjoyment in fashion, recalling a past struggle with anxiety and depression that led her to withdraw from the tournament in 2021.
Osaka’s outfits require significant preparation, planned 18 months ahead and needing at least four fittings. These fittings account for possible changes in her weight or fabric adjustments, attributing this process to providing her joy and excitement on the court.
Weather Conditions and Matches
During the tournament’s first week, participants endured warm and humid conditions, with temperatures peaking at 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). A spectator fell ill and was taken out on a stretcher during Osaka’s match. The weather is predicted to cool down for the event’s continuation.
In other matches, French player Diane Parry defeated 2019 semifinalist Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3). In men’s events, Alejandro Tabilo beat 17-year-old Moise Kouame in four sets. Additionally, Matteo Berrettini, a Wimbledon finalist, required over five hours to overcome Francisco Comesana in an intense five-set match. Berrettini expressed his relief by beating his chest and tearing after his opponent’s final shot went long.
The event also featured notable performances by Flavio Cobolli, who bested Learner Tien. Next, Cobolli will face Zachary Svajda, who managed a close win against Francisco Cerundolo. Felix Auger-Aliassime will compete against Brandon Nakashima, with Auger-Aliassime currently the highest-seeded player in the top half of the draw following Jannik Sinner’s surprising early exit.
Concerns about player safety prompted organizers to move advertising boards further back on the courts. Turkish player Zeynep Sönmez suffered an injury related to an advertising board, forcing her to withdraw from a doubles match.