PARIS — Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff lost in three sets to Austrian Anastasia Potapova to bring an end to her Roland Garros title defence.
The fourth seed was defeated in the third round 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 by the 28th seed.
Her premature exit leaves four-times champion Iga Swiatek and world number one Aryna Sabalenka as the leading contenders to claim the trophy, while Potapova will fancy her chances as the dark horse having dished out a massive upset.
“I’m cramping a little bit, but it’s OK, it’s all good. I don’t have any words now, I’m extremely happy,” Potapova said in her on-court chat as she clutched her right arm after two hours and 37 minutes of big hitting.
“The fight we could show, both of us… Coco’s such a champion and I respect her so much. I’m unbelievably proud of myself that I stayed there, that I was fighting until the very last point,” Potapova added according to AFP.
Potapova rattled Gauff with powerful baseline hitting and broke to love in the opening game, before taking a 4-2 lead when the American slipped and dropped to the floor of Court Philippe Chatrier while trying to reach for the ball.
