On a rain-slicked day in Paris beneath the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, Coco Gauff showcased precisely that, battling past fellow American Madison Keys to secure her place in the French Open semi-finals.
At just 21 years old, Gauff has already made a habit of defying expectations, but her 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-1 victory over the experienced Keys may be one of her most telling performances yet.
It was far from her most polished display. She double-faulted nine times in the first two sets, missed key opportunities early on, and looked unsettled in the face of Keys’ explosive forehand.
But as the match stretched into its third hour, what Gauff lacked in precision, she made up for with resilience.
In the final set, her transformation was complete: the unsteady serve found its rhythm, her footwork became more assertive, and her confidence took over.
The early stages of the match were shaky, marked by short rallies and frequent unforced errors from both players.
Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, capitalized first, jumping to a 4-1 lead and eventually edging out the first-set tie-break.
But the dynamic shifted in the second set. Keys’ power game began to unravel under pressure, and Gauff, ever the fighter, seized the moment.
She broke serve twice and weathered a brief comeback attempt before closing out the set to level the match.
By the third set, there was no question who held the momentum. Keys, burdened by a staggering 60 unforced errors by match end, struggled to stay in rallies, while Gauff found a new gear.
Her defense turned into offense, her returns grew sharper, and her movement—always one of her greatest weapons—began dictating play.
The final scoreline of the third set, 6-1, was a testament to how thoroughly she had turned the tide.
This win marks Gauff’s third career victory over Keys in six meetings and notably her first on clay. It also continues a strong clay season for the world number two, who has already reached finals in Madrid and Rome this spring, falling just short to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively.
Yet, Roland Garros has always held a special place in Gauff’s journey. It was here in 2022 that she made her first Grand Slam final, and in 2024 she lifted the doubles trophy with Katerina Siniakova. Her comfort on clay is no longer a question—it’s a cornerstone of her game.
Looking ahead, Gauff now awaits the winner of a quarter-final between rising Russian star Mirra Andreeva and French wildcard Lois Boisson.
