Coco Gauff has made history by becoming the eighth American player in 40 years to reach the fourth round of the French Open, joining the ranks of legendary stars like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, and Jimmy Connors, who last accomplished this feat in 1985.
In this year’s tournament, Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, is joined by an impressive lineup of American talent, including world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 7 Madison Keys, No. 16 Amanda Anisimova, and unseeded Hailey Baptiste. On the men’s side, American players Tommy Paul (No. 12), Ben Shelton (No. 13), and Frances Tiafoe (No. 16) also advanced to the fourth round.
Pegula, who reached the semi-finals at the US Open, expressed her excitement about the strong performance of American players, stating, “It’s exciting to see. Obviously, you want to see your fellow countrymen do well. I’m always keeping up with them, and I hope they keep it going.” She will next face French wildcard Lois Boisson.
Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, showcased her resilience by saving three match points while trailing 5-4 in the final set against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. She rallied to win the match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, and will now compete against world No. 70 Baptiste.
In an exciting matchup, Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, made her way back to the second week of the tournament with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over No. 32 seed Yulia Putintseva. Andreeva dominated the game, winning nine of the last ten points. “I’m happy with my level and super happy to be back in the fourth round,” she remarked.
This year’s French Open is shaping up to be a thrilling event, showcasing the incredible talent of American players and the rising stars of tennis. Stay tuned for more exciting matches as the tournament progresses!
