PARIS – American tennis sensation Coco Gauff has once again etched her name in the annals of the sport, advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Open for the fourth consecutive year. Her latest victory not only marks her ninth major quarterfinal appearance overall but also places her in elite company as the fourth-youngest player in the Open Era to achieve such a consistent streak of success at Roland Garros.
At just 21 years old, Gauff joins a prestigious list of tennis legends who made their mark on the Parisian clay at a young age, including Martina Hingis, Stefanie Graf, and Conchita Martínez. This accomplishment underscores her remarkable evolution on the surface since her main-draw debut in 2020, a journey that has seen her reach her first Grand Slam final here in 2022.
Gauff’s 2025 clay-court campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. After a solid 13-5 run on hard courts earlier in the year, she has seamlessly transitioned to the dirt, boasting an impressive 15-3 record this season following finals appearances in both Madrid and Rome.
The fourth-round clash against Ekaterina Alexandrova was a compelling tale of two distinct sets. Gauff stormed through the opener, dominating her opponent with powerful and precise play. The statistics from the first set were telling, with Alexandrova committing 15 unforced errors to just three winners and managing to win only five points in the initial five games. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Gauff had to battle through a marathon sixth game, navigating seven deuces before finally converting her third set point.
However, the second set saw a rejuvenated Alexandrova emerge. The 30-year-old elevated her game, demonstrating a renewed commitment to longer rallies and stepping into the court to challenge Gauff. After falling behind a break, Alexandrova fought back, leveling the set and putting the pressure on the young American.
“She stepped up her game in the second,” Gauff acknowledged in her on-court interview. “Some balls I hit a good shot and she would hit a winner on the line. If she wins like that I can keep my head up high, so overall I thought I played great.”
Despite a momentary wobble on her forehand, Gauff’s exceptional defense and ability to conjure winners on the run proved to be the difference-maker. A pair of stunning backhand winners secured a crucial break for a 4-3 lead. While Alexandrova immediately struck back with a series of spectacular forehands, she couldn’t capitalize on her momentum. Leading 5-4, a couple of costly double faults from Gauff went unpunished as the errors that plagued Alexandrova in the first set resurfaced.
From there, Gauff regained control, reeling off 12 of the final 16 points to seal the victory and close out the match in style.
This win extends Gauff’s head-to-head advantage over Alexandrova to 4-1, in what was their first-ever meeting on a clay court. As she looks ahead to the quarterfinals, Gauff’s confidence and formidable form on clay position her as a serious contender for the title.
