Bright future: Coco Gauff reaches French Open quarterfinals at 17
Defeats Ons Jabeur in straight sets at the French Open
Paris: A day after Serena Williams was eliminated from the French Open, 17-year-old Coco Gauff showed the future in tennis for American women is bright.
Gauff served superbly to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ons Jabeur on Monday. Gauff lost only nine points on her serve and was also highly effective at the net, winning 13 of 17 points when she came forward — which was especially impressive against a player who is known for her shot-making skills.
“I feel like this has been the most consistent tennis I have played at this level,” Gauff said. “Hopefully I can keep that going.” Gauff also had a quick match in the previous round, when Jennifer Brady retired with an injured left foot after Gauff won the opening set. Jabeur said Gauff is a contender to raise the trophy — either this year or in the future. “If she’s not going to win it now, she’s probably going to win another time,” the Tunisian said. It wouldn’t be the first time Gauff claims a title at Roland Garros, having won the girls’ singles title in 2018.
Gauff will next face Barbora Krejcikova, who also reached her first quarterfinal at a major by beating 2018 French Open runner-up Sloane Stephens with a similarly lopsided score — 6-2, 6-0. Later, 22-year-old Sofia Kenin was to face 17th-seeded Maria Sakkari with another spot in the last eight on the line.
Kenin is the highest-seeded woman left in the women’s draw at No. 4. The American lost last year’s final at Roland Garros to Iga Swiatek, who meets Marta Kostyuk in the night match on Court Philippe Chatrier. On Sunday, the 39-year-old Williams lost to Elena Rybakina 6-3, 7-5.
Gauff has not dropped a set in Paris this year. She won both the singles and doubles titles at a warmup tournament in Parma before coming to Paris. That came after a run to the semifinals of the Italian Open. In all, she’s on a career-best nine-match winning streak.
Barbora Krejcikova also reached the quarterfinals by routing 2018 French Open runner-up Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-0. Krejcikova saved all three break points she faced while Stephens ended up with 26 unforced errors. Krejcikova won her first WTA title in Strasbourg in the buildup to the French Open. She reached the fourth round at Roland Garros last year. Stephens won the U.S. Open in 2017 had her run to the final at the French Open the next year.
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