PARIS — Cori “Coco” Gauff has reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the French Open quarterfinals.
Gauff built early leads in both sets, and Stephens made errors at key points on Court Philippe Chatrier Tuesday.
The 18th-seeded Gauff led 3-1 in the second set when Stephens missed an opportunity to get back on serve, sending a drive volley long on her third break-point chance before Gauff won the next two points.
Stephens had won three straight games to even the first set at 5-5, but Gauff won the next seven points and broke for the set. Stephens missed a backhand volley to hand Gauff her first set-point opportunity.
The 29-year-old Stephens, a former No. 3, won at Flushing Meadows in 2017 and was the runner-up at Roland Garros the next year.
Gauff has not dropped a set on her run to the semifinals.
“I believe in myself. Even last year, I was too focused on trying to fulfill other people’s expectations,” she said. “I know no matter how good or bad my career is, I know I’m a good person, so I think that’s a good message for young people. … Just know: If you love yourself, who cares what anyone else thinks?”
The 18-year-old Gauff will next face another first-time semifinalist in Martina Trevisan, who earlier beat Leylah Fernandez.
Trevisan, 28, advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal by beating a hobbled Fernandez 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
The Italian had a chance to win in two sets against the 17th-seeded Canadian at Court Philippe Chatrier but Fernandez saved a match point and then won the tiebreaker.
Trevisan double-faulted twice in the tiebreaker.
“I was very tired and I had to go to the bathroom. I got just a quick moment alone in a room, away from the court, away from any people, in silence. It gave me a chance to regroup. I threw some water on my face,” she said. “I was playing to get to a semifinal, and I still had a set in front of me, so I had to start from…
Source : espn
