French Open Twist: Gauff Loses Early, Osaka Steals Attention in Paris

Defending champion Coco Gauff saw her French Open campaign come to an unexpected end on Saturday as she lost to Anastasia Potapova in a tense third round clash at Roland Garros .

Potapova , ranked 30th, produced a strong baseline performance to win 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 in a match shaped by long rallies and shifting momentum, ending Gauff’s title defense in Paris.

“She was able to finish the points and I was not,” said Gauff , pointing to missed chances in key moments.

The World No. 4 struggled to break Potapova’s consistency in extended exchanges despite covering more ground, eventually falling short in crucial points that decided the match.

Potapova described the victory as special, praising Gauff as a “champion” after sealing the win on her first match point.

The contest was played in unusually quiet conditions at Court Philippe Chatrier , with many local fans distracted by the Champions League final .

Gauff’s exit comes after a difficult build-up that included a minor car accident before the tournament, though she was unhurt. She had entered Paris after reaching the Italian Open final , where she lost to Elina Svitolina .

Meanwhile, attention also turned to Naomi Osaka , who continued her strong comeback with a hard-fought win over 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4.

The match marked Osaka’s 100th Grand Slam appearance , setting up a fourth-round clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka , who defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5.

Osaka once again grabbed attention with her bold on-court style, wearing a metallic gold outfit with an extended train flowing over the clay at Court Suzanne-Lenglen .

“It’s a surprise every time,” said Osaka , adding she wants tennis to feel fun again after her earlier struggles with anxiety and depression.

Elsewhere in men’s action, Alejandro Tabilo continued his impressive run, while Frances Tiafoe staged another strong comeback in a demanding five-set battle as the French Open heads deeper into its second week.