ABnewz
Coco Gauff Battles into French Open Semifinals with Hard-Fought Win
In a match that will be remembered for its nail-biting intensity rather than exceptional tennis, Coco Gauff huffed and puffed her way into the French Open semifinals with a 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 victory against fellow American Madison Keys. The crowd held its collective breath as the two players struggled to find their rhythm, combining for over 100 unforced errors in a thrilling, yet error-strewn contest.
Contents
A Forgettable Match for Both Players
Gauff, the World No. 2, will be relieved to have emerged victorious, but she knows she needs to make dramatic adjustments to her game if she wants to reach the final. More than half of her points came from Keys’ soft mistakes, and she got away with an astonishing 10 double faults. Keys, on the other hand, bowed out with her 60th unforced error, a disappointing end to a forgettable contest.
“I’m happy to get through this match today, I have a lot more work to do, I’ll be ready tomorrow,” Gauff said, visibly relieved to have made it through the grueling encounter. The 21-year-old will face either France’s Lois Boisson or Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, and she knows she can’t afford to repeat the same mistakes.
Image: Coco Gauff in action during her match against Madison Keys. Photo Credit: AFP
A Scrappy Affair from the Start
The opening set was a scrappy affair, with the first three games going against serve. Keys secured the first hold to lead 3-1 and broke again before Gauff clawed back a break and held for the first time to close the gap to 4-3. In a flurry of breaks, Gauff leveled at 4-4 and held once more to edge ahead, putting the pressure on Keys, who saved a set point to force a tiebreak.
The drama was undeniable, with momentum swinging wildly. In the end, Keys edged the tiebreak as Gauff double-faulted three times, handing the opener to her opponent. Gauff later admitted that she changed her strategy mid-match, which helped her to claw back into the contest. “I changed something at 4-1 (in the first set). It’s tough to play against her because she hits the ball so fast, so low, I was just trying to fight for every point… to get the ball to the other side of the net,” she said.
A Turning Point for Gauff
The second set was more of the same, with both players struggling to find their rhythm. “So many unforced errors,” Gauff said on court, in one of the understatements of the season. However, she managed to level the contest as Keys looked out of sorts, and then cantered through the decider to seal the win.
Gauff’s victory marked a significant milestone in her career, as she became the youngest woman to claim 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis (1995-2000). The 21-year-old, who reached the final here in 2022, will be looking to build on this momentum and make a deep run in the tournament.
What’s Next for Gauff?
As Gauff prepares to face her next opponent, she knows she needs to tighten up her game and reduce the number of unforced errors. She will be working tirelessly with her team to make the necessary adjustments and come out stronger in the semifinals. With her powerful forehand and agile movement around the court, Gauff has the potential to go all the way in this tournament. But she will need to be at the top of her game if she wants to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
In the end, Gauff’s victory was a testament to her determination and perseverance. Despite struggling to find her rhythm, she managed to grind out a win against a tough opponent. As she looks to the semifinals, she will be drawing on this experience and using it to fuel her push for the title. Will she be able to overcome the obstacles and emerge victorious? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – Coco Gauff is a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.
Content originally published by sportstar.thehindu.com
