Gauff Advances to Fourth Round, Set to Clash with Alexandrova

PARIS: Coco Gauff, the world’s second-ranked player, secured her place in the French Open’s Last 16 by defeating Czech competitor Marie Bouzkova in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(3). The match took place at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday.

Gauff’s achievement marks her as the youngest American woman to reach the fourth round in seven consecutive Grand Slam events or more, a feat last accomplished by Venus Williams with nine consecutive appearances between the US Open in 1997 and 1999.

The 21-year-old displayed remarkable command from the start, leaving Bouzkova with limited opportunities in the first set.

The second set presented more challenges for Gauff. Bouzkova, 26, fought to keep Gauff near the baseline and gained a 30-0 lead on her serve, putting her close to winning the set. However, Gauff rallied to regain control.

Following her victory, Gauff commented on Bouzkova’s strong performance, acknowledging the difficulty she posed. She also expressed her satisfaction with her own ability to secure the win.

“She performed well, consistently returning the ball into the court during the second set,” Gauff noted.

“It was challenging, but overall, I am pleased with my ability to persevere,” she added.

Further reflecting on her play, Gauff mentioned her strong start but noted some errors in the second set.

“I played effectively in the first set. However, I made errors in the second, and she managed to return many balls. Opponents often struggle with that aspect of her game,” she stated.

Coco Gauff will now compete against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round.