Published：May 24, 20:36Last updated：May 31, 00:33

Coco Gauff's French Open Title Defense Ends Early

May. 24, 2026 20:36

Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea defeated Ksenia Efremova in the first round of the French Open, advancing to the second round. Cirstea won with a score of 6-3, 6-1 and will face the winner of the match between Petra Martic and Eva Lys in the next round.

Summarized

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May. 30, 2026 20:40

Coco Gauff’s French Open title defense ended in a third-round loss to Anastasia Potapova on May 30, 2026. Gauff, the fourth seed, won the first set but lost in a tight three-set match. She admitted to struggling under pressure, particularly in the decisive moments. Meanwhile, Cerúndolo advanced after a grueling six-hour match. Gauff had previously reached the quarter-finals in the last five editions of the tournament.

May. 31, 2026 00:33

American tennis star Coco Gauff, ranked fourth globally, was unexpectedly defeated by Austria's Potapova in the third round of the 2026 French Open. Gauff won the first set but lost the match after a tiebreak in the second set and a decisive third set. Another American player, Anisimova, also lost her match. Meanwhile, Argentina's Cerundolo advanced to the men's singles round of 16 after a grueling five-set match.

American tennis sensation Coco Gauff's bid to defend her French Open title came to an abrupt end in the third round against Austria's Anastasia Potapova. The fourth-seeded Gauff, who had dominated earlier matches against Taylor Townsend and Mayar Sherif, fell 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 in a dramatic three-set battle at Roland Garros. The loss marks Gauff's earliest exit from the Paris tournament in six years, having reached at least the quarterfinals in her five previous appearances.France 24+2

🎾 Gauff's Rollercoaster Performance

Gauff started strong, taking the first set 6-4 with her characteristic aggressive baseline play. However, Potapova fought back in a tense second-set tiebreak before clinching the decider. The match lasted over two hours, with Gauff admitting to struggling under pressure during critical moments. This contrasts sharply with her straight-sets victories in the first two rounds against Townsend (6-4, 6-0) and Sherif (6-3, 6-2).RIA Novosti+2

🇦🇹 Potapova's Career Milestone

The 25-year-old Potapova achieved her second career fourth-round appearance at Roland Garros with this upset. Her next challenge comes against Russia's Anna Kalinskaya. Potapova's victory over the defending champion continues her upward trajectory in Grand Slam tournaments, having previously reached the third round in multiple majors.RIA Novosti+2

🌍 Tournament Landscape Shifts

Gauff's early exit opens up the bottom half of the draw, where she was projected to face top seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Meanwhile, other Americans like Amanda Anisimova also suffered early defeats, while Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo advanced in the men's draw after a marathon five-set match lasting nearly six hours.The Guardian+2

📉 Gauff's Post-Match Reflections

The 22-year-old acknowledged the pressure of defending her title affected her performance: "I didn't handle the big points well today." Gauff's loss marks only her third defeat in 18 matches at Roland Garros since 2021. She plans to regroup before Wimbledon, where she reached the finals in 2025.The Guardian+2

Coco GauffMayar SherifRoland GarrosTaylor TownsendAnastasia Potapova