Coco Gauff reaches quarter-finals after straight-sets win
Mia Lopez Coco Gauff reached the French Open quarter-finals for the third successive year with a straight-sets victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
The 19-year-old American failed to serve out the opening set at the first time of asking but was otherwise convincing in a 7-5, 6-2 victory on Suzanne Lenglen.
“It’s really windy on this court, so it was hard to hit through the ball. You have to forget about it from 5-3 to 5-5,” she said.
“I haven’t played on this court all tournament, and I think the way the almost-roof is it covers the wind, but I live in Florida so I cant use it as an excuse as it is pretty windy there.”
Gauff could face a rematch of last year’s final against world No 1 Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.
Seventh seed Ons Jabeur eased into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over American Bernarda Pera.
The Tunisian, who reached the final at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year, has struggled with injury in 2023 but is through to the quarter-finals here for the first time.
“It was the only grand slam missing,” said Jabeur. “I’m very happy with the performance, with the way I was, playing, especially coming back after an injury.
“I was just taking it one match at a time, trying to make it to the second week. Now I’m going to push more for the next few matches.”
In the last eight, she will meet Beatriz Haddad Maia, who needed a mammoth three hours and 51 minutes to get past Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5.
It was the longest women’s match of the year and the longest at Roland Garros since 1995, with Haddad Maia becoming the first Brazilian to reach the women’s singles quarter-finals since Maria Bueno 55 years ago.
“All the matches that I play I prepare myself for the toughest moments,” said the 14th seed. “So I know that Sara will bring the balls. She defends very well. I knew that the ball was coming again.
“I had to be aggressive. So I was prepared for that. I was trying to be as aggressive as I could to finish the point, to go to the net. I work very hard on my body, as well, so I believe in myself when we have tough moments.”
Gauff learning French
Gauff 7-5, 6-2 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Schmiedlova just misses with a forehand down the line, 15-0. Gauff nets a backhand down the lin,, 15-15.
Double fault Gauff, 15-30. Another double fault, 15-40. Gauff is a little bit frazzled at the moment.
Gauff saves the first when Schmiedlova puts a forehand return long. Then the second when Schmiedlova nets a backhand pass.
Schmiedlova forehand into the net, match point. Schmiedlova backhand return into the tramlines... GAME SET MATCH GAUFF!
Gauff* 7-5, 5-2 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Gauff miscues a forehand return but Schmiedlova can’t react quick enough, 15-30. Longest rally of the match, Schmiedlova hits a drop shot, Gauff gets there but doesn’t do enough and Schmiedlova smashes a backhand winner past her.
Lovely drop shot winner by Gauff, deuce. Gauff steps in and drills a backhand down-the-line winner, break point.
No hesitation from Gauff as she moves up to a short ball and drills a backhand winner into the corner.
Gauff breaks and will serve for the match.
Gauff 7-5, 4-2 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Schmiedlova nets a backhand, 30-0. Gauff drills a backhand down the line to consolidate the break.
Gauff* 7-5, 3-2 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Double fault by Schmiedlova, 30-15. Tight looking forehand into the net by Schmiedlova, 30-30. Big point coming up!
Another double fault by Schmiedlova, break point. Another first serve missed... Schmiedlova does get the second serve in but Gauff goes after it with her backhand return and Schmiedlova sends a backhand long.
Gauff breaks.
Gauff 7-5, 2-2 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Slightly different complexion on the match with Schmiedlova stamping her authority on the match.
She is averaging 10km/h more than Gauff on her forehand. And from 40-0, Gauff is taken to deuce.
The crowd are really into this match now as well. But credit to Gauff, under a lot of pressure she holds with another drop shot winner.
Gauff* 7-5, 1-2 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Point of the match, great hustle by both players using every angle of the match and covering a lot of ground but Schmiedlova gets the point with an angled backhand winner, 30-15.
Wow. Brilliant sliced backhand winner down the line by Schmiedlova, 40-15. Wild Gauff forehand return and Schmiedlova holds.
Gauff 7-5, 1-1 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Brilliant drop shot winner by Gauff, 15-0. Every time Gauff is inside the baseline she is looking to play a drop shot.
Schmiedlova return long, 40-30. Schmiedlova attacks Gauff’s forehand and finishes with a forehand winner, deuce.
Gauff double fault, break point. Another double fault, her fourth of the match and Schmiedlova breaks.
Second Set: Gauff* 7-5, 1-0 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Both players are playing at a high level right now. This opening game could be decisive and Gauff pushes Schmiedlova to deuce.
Big inside out backhand winner from Schmiedlova. Schmiedlova backhand into the tramlines, break point Gauff.
Gauff breaks after a short angled return draws the error from Schmiedlova, who nets a sliced backhand.
Gauff 7-5 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Gauff has found her first serve again and it moves her to 30-0.
Schmiedlova forehand return long, break point. And she takes it at the first opportunity by drilling a backhand winner down the line.
Good end to a tough set for Gauff.
Gauff* 6-5 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Schmiedlova double faults, 15-15. Schmiedlova then puts a forehand into the tramlines, 15-30.
The swirling wind is making things tricky for both players. But Gauff hits a huge forehand winner, break point.
Schmiedlova goes for an ambitious backhand down the line but the ball drops in the tramlines.
Gauff breaks.
Gauff 5-5 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Off balance Gauff sends a backhand long, 15-30. Relief for Gauff as Schmiedlova nets her return, 30-30.
Gauff double fault, break point. Long rally, Schmiedlova turns defence into attack and Gauff blinks first with a forehand into the net.
Schmiedlova breaks.
Gauff* 5-4 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Well and truly game on as Schmiedlova holds to force Gauff to serve for the set again.
Schmiedlova has found her form and seems to be attacking Gauff’s forehand.
Gauff 5-3 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Gauff has won 100 per cent of points when her first serve goes in. Only dropped three points on serve all match so far.
She loses the opening point here though as Schmiedlova assumes control of the rally and Gauff defensive forehand is long.
Gauff sees out the danger with a cross-court backhand winner, 30-30. Another return error by Schmiedlova hands Gauff a set point. Deep return by Schmiedlova and Gauff sends a forehand long, deuce. Another forehand error by Gauff gives Schmiedlova her first break point of the match.
Poor drop shot by Gauff as Schmiedlova reaches it with time to spare and finishes with a forehand winner.
Schmiedlova breaks.
Gauff* 5-2 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Cute drop shot from Gauff earns her two more break points, 15-40.
Schmiedlova saves the first when Gauff sends a return long. Then the second when Gauff hits a backhand long.
Gauff takes advantage of Schmiedlova’s deep position to hit a drop shot winner, break point. Saved by Schmiedlova after passing Gauff at the net with a backhand down the line.
Gauff is giving Schmiedlova no time on the ball and draws after error, fourth break point. Schmiedlova finds her first serve and Gauff misses again.
Gauff adjust her feet and angles a cross court backhand winner, fifth break point. Schmiedlova forehand long and Gauff breaks again.
Gauff 4-2 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Not the best drop shot from Gauff but she anticipates Schmiedlova’s reply and puts a backhand volley into the open court.
Gauff holds again with a forehand winner down the line. All business from the sixth seed so far.
Gauff* 3-2 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Forehand to forehand battle between the two players but Gauff’s breaks down first, 40-0. The forehand is an area of weakness for the American.
Schmiedlova holds after taking charge of the rally and finishing with a backhand winner.
Gauff 3-1 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Impressive serving by Gauff. Four first serves and Schmiedlova failed to get any of her returns back in play.
Looks quite windy at court level which may have played a part in that service game.
Gauff* 2-1 Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Points aren’t coming easy for Schmiedlova. Gauff is making her play for every ball and rushing her into mistakes.
But a couple of timely first serves draws return errors from Gauff amd Schmiedlova holds.
Gauff 2-0 Schmiedlova* (*denotes next server)
Double fault by Gauff to start her service game. Gauff soaks up the pressure from Schmiedlova and drills a backhand down the line for a winner, 15-15.
Nice feel at the net from Gauff to react to a ball drills at her and she finishes with a backhand overhead winner.
First Set: Coco Gauff* 1-0 Anna Schmiedlova (*denotes next server)
Nerves start by Schmiedlova as she sends a forehand then a backhand into the net, 0-30. She then puts a forehand long to hand Gauff three break points.
And Gauff makes the perfect start when Schmiedlova overhits a backhand long.
Gauff breaks.
Here we go!
Haddad Maia earns comeback win in marathon contest
Brazilian 14th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia recovered from a set and two breaks down to clinch a 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5 victory over unseeded Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in three hours and 51 minutes - making it the longest WTA match of the season.
Haddad Maia advances to the quarter-finals, where she will face seventh-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur, who made light work of Bernarda Pera in their fourth-round match, beating the American 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour.
Back-to-back quarter-finals in Paris for Casper Ruud
Gauff vs Schmiedlova
Hello and welcome to coverage from the French Open as American Coco Gauff plays Slovakian Anna Schmiedlova for a place in the quarter-finals.
Gauff needed to fight back from a set down to fellow teen sensation Mirra Andreeva, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the previous round.
She said: “I feel like in the first [set] I had so many opportunities to close it out and I came up short on a few points, but I knew the way I was playing and the direction I was going that I would have been able to get the second.
“Then the third is always tough because you don’t know, obviously she lost the third [sic] 6-1, you don’t know if she’s gonna make an adjustment or not, but I just tried to stay with my game plan.”
There has been a backlash at the French Open to the lack of women’s matches scheduled for the night session on Chatrier.
Last night Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens played out an entertaining match for fans and Gauff said it did “suck a little bit” that men’s matches had been prefered.
She said: “I didn’t realize only the men have been scheduled in that spot. I don’t know if the night session amongst the players is a popular hotspot.
“But amongst the players and from my conversations, I don’t think a lot of people want that spot just because it is a late night. I don’t know if Sloane or Aryna wanted to play at that time, but I know the ones I spoke to, no one really wants the night session.
“On that sense, we were happy with the men taking it, but obviously it is the prime spot. So it does suck a little bit in that way. It depends on how you think about it.”
