Coco Gauff passed her biggest test so far at the French Open as she scrapped her way past fellow American Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals.
A scruffy match featuring a combined 101 unforced errors and 14 breaks of serve ended 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-1 in favour of the World No 2. "Maddie was playing well, she's hitting the ball so fast and so low so I was just trying to fight for each point," said Gauff, the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2022.
"I knew I had to be able to run today and as soon as the ball came short, punish her for it. It means a lot, getting through this tough match. I'm very happy to get through and be in the semi-finals again”
Lois Boisson, the World No 361, takes on sixth seed Mirra Andreeva after delighting the French Open crowd with her stunning upset over Jessica Pegula in the fourth round. There is a blockbuster semi-final on the other side of the draw with defending champion Iga Swiatek and World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka set for a mouthwatering clash on Thursday.
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French Open LIVE: Scores and updates from Roland Garros
- Coco Gauff defeats Madison Keys in three sets to reach French Open semi-final
- Home hope Lois Boisson then faces Mirra Andreeva on Court Philippe-Chatrier
- Gauff wins tricky encounter with sublime third set | Result 6-7 6-4 6-1
- Mirra Andreeva faces uphill battle as inspired Lois Boisson wins 80-minute first set 7-6 (8-6)
Women's semi-finals
15:07
,
Flo Clifford
[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek [5]
Lois Boisson vs Coco Gauff [2]
Lois Boisson 7-6(8-6), 6-3 Mirra Andreeva
15:04
,
Flo Clifford
Boisson looks understandably emotional. The on-court interview tells her it was an “extraordinary” match and asks her to sum up her emotions, which she does, in between shouts of “Allez Lois!”
“It was unbelievable, there are no words to describe that feeling,” she says. “After the difficult moments we went through last year, it’s unbelievable to come through, but it’s also thanks to my team who supported me. I ran a bit too much because I was so tense! It was difficult to hit the ball, I fought hard, the first set was very intense and at the beginning of the second I was really tired, but I managed to recover.
“I’m going to try to recover, see the physios, there are six physios in my box so I have plenty of choice!”
Lois Boisson defeats Mirra Andreeva!
14:59
,
Flo Clifford
Lois Boisson defeats Mirra Andreeva!
14:54
,
Flo Clifford
Lois Boisson is into the semi-finals! An Andreeva lob takes an absolutely age to land, and it falls wide!
Boisson collapses to the ground in amazement. Back-to-back top-10 wins, in her first Grand Slam main draw, and she’s into the last four. Everyone in the crowd is on their feet.
Andreeva gives her a gracious hug before making a speedy exit. Tough day at the office for her, compounded by a very difficult crowd.
MATCH POINTS BOISSON! *Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-5 Lois Boisson
14:52
,
Flo Clifford
The seventh seed fires into the net and 22-year-old Lois Boisson, the world No. 361, has three match points.
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-5 Lois Boisson
14:51
,
Flo Clifford
First blood Boisson. She is playing utterly fearless tennis and forces the error. 0-15.
Andreeva goes long again... 0-30. Chatrier is going wild.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-5 Lois Boisson*
14:50
,
Flo Clifford
And Boisson fights back to hold serve! Some huge, huge serving, and Andreeva shanks a shot from far up the court into the net.
The seventh seed will serve to stay in the French Open.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-4 Lois Boisson*
14:48
,
Flo Clifford
Masterful from Andreeva, sending Boisson sliding all over the baseline before putting away a simple smash.
But the chance goes begging as she fires a return long. Back to deuce.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-4 Lois Boisson*
14:47
,
Flo Clifford
More aggressive from Boisson and she forces Andreeva into the net! Deuce.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-4 Lois Boisson*
14:46
,
Flo Clifford
A little sloppy from Boisson in this game, with a couple of errors so far, although the crowd give her plenty of encouragement. Andreeva goes 15-30 up.
But the Russian sends a looping ball out of play, before catching a second serve very early and catching Boisson off-guard. Break point opportunity for Andreeva.
BREAK! *Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-4 Lois Boisson
14:41
,
Flo Clifford
But she double faults and the crowd erupts! Boisson leads, four games on the trot!
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-3 Lois Boisson
14:41
,
Flo Clifford
Andreeva is not happy, having a chat with the umpire about that correction, but the replays show it was out.
A huge cross-court forehand saves one of those three break points.
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-3 Lois Boisson
14:40
,
Flo Clifford
Raucous cheers as Andreeva slams a smash long after another long rally, and boos as she blasts a ball into the stands after netting on another net approach shot. She gets a warning and a code violation for ball abuse.
The umpire has her work cut out here.
Boisson in convinced a point is long - and she’s right! The Frenchwoman has three break points!
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-3 Lois Boisson*
14:37
,
Flo Clifford
The crowd roar in delight as Andreeva nets. The 18-year-old’s unforced error count is up to 55.
Boisson still looks pretty calm, and another huge serve out wide seals her third game in a row!
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-2 Lois Boisson*
14:36
,
Flo Clifford
Conchita Martinez, in Andreeva’s box, exhorts her to keep being aggressive. It pays off as she wrongfoots Boisson with a drop shot, the 22-year-old slipping on the baseline and unable to get there.
But a couple of errors follow and it sounds like Andreeva tells her coach to leave! Emotions are running high for the teenager.
Boisson double faults, with the delay from asking the umpire to check a call for a first serve that was narrowly out, probably not helping.
And Andreeva is battling back in this, forcing a terrible error from Boisson, the Frenchwoman sending a high ball way wide - but a huge serve gets her back to deuce.
BREAK! *Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-2 Lois Boisson
14:30
,
Flo Clifford
She saves the first with a good serve that Boisson can only hit long.
But an absolutely phenomenal backhand down-the-line winner by the Frenchwoman secures the break back!
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-1 Lois Boisson
14:29
,
Flo Clifford
Another double fault - an eighth of the match by Andreeva. The long-suffering umpire tells the crowd to be quiet between first and second serves. Andreeva is visibly frustrated, and despite her 3-1 lead in this set she’s getting very tight.
She plays a looping forehand wide and Boisson has two break points. The crowd are absolutely loving it.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-1 Lois Boisson*
14:27
,
Flo Clifford
Boisson isn’t going anywhere, hanging in two rallies for 30-0 - although she gets unlucky with a delicate volley that drops just short.
Andreeva’s return of a wide serve is long and the Frenchwoman has the chance to get on the board. She duly does so, playing another sublime drop shot that the seventh seed does well to get to - but sends long.
Andreeva is absolutely livid with herself, smacking her thigh in frustration.
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 3-0 Lois Boisson
14:22
,
Flo Clifford
Andreeva’s backhand is something to behold and she blasts another cross-court winner from that wing, before Boisson nets to hand over a very healthy 3-0 lead.
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 2-0 Lois Boisson
14:20
,
Flo Clifford
Andreeva is moving her opponent around better now - but Boisson is very much still in this, chasing down a delicate drop shot and demonstrating a soft touch of her own, before smashing a volley beyond Andreeva’s reach for 40-30.
And another smash for deuce!
*Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 2-0 Lois Boisson
14:17
,
Flo Clifford
As you’d expect on Philippe-Chatrier - much, much fuller than in the earlier match between Madison Keys and Coco Gauff - the crowd is entirely behind their home hope, and shouts between service and cheers of Andreeva’s double faults have clearly had a toll on the Russian.
But she’s come out sharper in this second set.
BREAK! Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 2-0 Lois Boisson*
14:16
,
Flo Clifford
But Andreeva earns a break point of her own, winning a deft net exchange - and she comes out on top in a baseline rally, forcing Boisson into the net.
“Attack it,” coach Conchita Martinez shouts at the Russian from her box.
Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 1-0 Lois Boisson*
14:14
,
Flo Clifford
Andreeva holds serve to start this second set, but not without difficulty, double faulting - her seventh double of the match - to gift Boisson a break point.
But she fights back, winning the next two points, and secures a crucial early hold.
Mirra Andreeva vs Lois Boisson
14:11
,
Flo Clifford
Resuming our French Open live coverage with the second set of the final women’s quarter-final.
It’s been another topsy-turvy encounter, with home hopeful and world No. 361 Lois Boisson securing a mammoth first set on a tiebreak, 7-6, after an hour and 20 minutes (!)
Coco Gauff into the semi-finals
12:36
,
Flo Clifford
And that’s what it means. A hard-fought and not very pretty match, up until a very impressive final set. She made just two unforced errors in the decider and one was a double fault.
Coco Gauff beats Madison Keys
12:30
,
Flo Clifford
Gauff notes that the conditions were very different - colder and with the roof closed - from her previous match, and she kept the same string tension from that, before changing it at 4-1 down in the first set.
“It means a lot,” she says when asked about getting into the last four, “especially getting through this tough match today, I’m very happy to get through and I’m so excited to be back in the semi-finals. I’m going to savour this one today.”
Coco Gauff beats Madison Keys
12:26
,
Flo Clifford
Let’s hear from the winner. She’s asked in her on-court interview if she changed something in the second set, and she says, referring to the first, “I changed something at 4-1, and after that I had chances to win the set. It’s tough because she’s hitting the ball so fast and so low.
“She’s obviously a very great player and her forehand is probably one of the best if not the best on tour. I was trying my best to get it ont the other side, but she has a great inside-out and outside-in forehand. I knew I had to run today and as soon as the ball came short to punish her for it.”
Madison Keys 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 1-6 Coco Gauff
12:22
,
Flo Clifford
A shout of relief by Gauff and she punches the air. The 21-year-old is back in the semi-finals.
She’ll await the winner of Lois Boisson vs Mirra Andreeva, up next on Chatrier.
COCO GAUFF WINS! *Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-6 Coco Gauff
12:20
,
Flo Clifford
And Gauff brings up match point! Both players play amazing down-the-line shots that just about make it in, but Gauff sends one sailing past her opponent and has the chance to seal it here.
And another forehand error by Keys hands it over! Gauff wins in three.
*Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-5 Coco Gauff
12:19
,
Flo Clifford
Keys now serves to stay in this match, after a breakneck-speed third set.
The errors keep coming and Gauff is looking unshakeable. 0-30.
Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-5 Coco Gauff*
12:18
,
Flo Clifford
A dangerous moment for Gauff at 30-30 but a sublime drop shot, acutely angled at the net, brings up game point. The fist pumps and shouts are back and as Keys shanks a return into the net, it feels like this is hers to lose. The serve is firing much better too, that double fault aside.
Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-4 Coco Gauff*
12:15
,
Flo Clifford
So, the 4-1 point is when the player in the lead collapsed in both of the previous two sets. Will we see it again? On the basis of Gauff’s performance in this set so far it feels unlikely, but it’s been such a topsy-turvy match, you also wouldn’t be surprised.
A loud ‘oooh’ greets her 10th double fault of the match. Bad start.
BREAK! *Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-4 Coco Gauff
12:14
,
Flo Clifford
This set has been a marked improvement by both players, particularly Gauff. Keys fires a pinpoint-accurate forehand into the ad corner and she’s on the front foot a bit more, moving up the court to put away a shot at the net, for 30-15.
But Gauff is much more confident in this set and has another chance to break courtesy of a lovely cross-court shot - and momentum swings again as Keys puts away a forehand into the open court for deuce.
Another chance for Gauff, she finds the line and Keys, taken by surprise, barely gets any purchase on it. The second seed breaks again!
Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-3 Coco Gauff*
12:09
,
Flo Clifford
The frustration is evident for Keys as she can’t back up that strong hold. Gauff is playing much better and she seals another love hold, standing firm at the net despite a barrage from her opponent, and Keys ultimately nets.
Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-2 Coco Gauff*
12:07
,
Flo Clifford
*Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 1-2 Coco Gauff
12:06
,
Flo Clifford
Better from Keys, manoeuvring Gauff well around the baseline, and she marches to 40-0 up. A must-win game, you’d think, for the Aussie Open champ.
Gauff nets, and that’s a very speedy hold to love to stop the rot.
Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 0-2 Coco Gauff*
12:03
,
Flo Clifford
Keys tries another passing shot past Gauff at the net, but this one flies long. A swift hold to love for the No. 2 seed.
BREAK! *Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6, 0-1 Coco Gauff
12:01
,
Flo Clifford
Much better from Keys, a down the line winner for game point. But another sails long for deuce. That familiar winner-error pattern is in play again.
She fights back for deuce again but the errors keep coming - up to 50 now - and Gauff earns another early break.
*Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6 Coco Gauff
11:57
,
Flo Clifford
Point of the match! A brilliant net exchange ends as Keys plays a deft volley just beyond Gauff’s reach. Smiles from both players at that one.
She follows it up with another sloppy forehand error, though, and a double fault for 15-30. It feels like Keys hasn’t felt comfortable serving first in these second two sets.
THIRD SET: *Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6 Coco Gauff
11:55
,
Flo Clifford
In both sets so far one player has got to 4-1, been pegged back to 4-4, before ultimately winning that set.
What now? It still feels like this match could go either way, and there could be plenty more twists considering how it’s gone so far. One hour and 45 minutes on the clock. Keys to serve first.
SECOND SET! Madison Keys 7-6, 4-6 Coco Gauff*
11:53
,
Flo Clifford
A lovely inside-out forehand by Keys keeps the pressure on at 15-15.
But she can’t take her opportunities and more unforced errors give Gauff one set point.
Keys nets and we’re all square! To a decider we go!
BREAK BACK! *Madison Keys 7-6, 4-5 Coco Gauff
11:49
,
Flo Clifford
Phenomenal stuff from Gauff as a cross-court forehand just kisses the sideline! She’s back in front and will serve for this set - but she served for the first set too, and look where we are now. Will the nerves get to her?
*Madison Keys 7-6, 4-4 Coco Gauff
11:48
,
Flo Clifford
Which way will the momentum swing now? Gauff gets 0-30 up, her defence is phenomenal, but Keys gets the better of her in in an extended rally with a pitch-perfect forehand.
But another chance comes Gauff’s way at 15-40.
One goes begging as a long, loopy return flies out of play. Still one more chance...
BREAK! Madison Keys 7-6, 4-4 Coco Gauff*
11:45
,
Flo Clifford
“Come on!” shouts Gauff as she forces Keys into the net, applying the pressure from further up the court.
The pair get into a rapid-fire net exchange and Gauff can’t react in time to another ping-pong style ball at her, firing wide for 15-40.
Another error by Keys - but she gets back level, pushing Gauff beyond the baseline and sealing the game with a forehand winner into the open court. All square!
“Deuce side, go at the body, nothing wide,” coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo tells Keys.
*Madison Keys 7-6, 3-4 Coco Gauff
11:40
,
Flo Clifford
Chris Evert says that Keys doesn’t have a “B game”, it’s all just power hitting. But 26% of Keys’ forehands has been errors - one in four on her preferred side - and she can’t just hit through it.
Gauff has a chance for 30-30 but slams a volley tamely into the net, a big missed chance. “So many unforced errors,” she says.
She can’t take advantage of a second serve and nets again. She’s still up a break, but is the Keys comeback on?
BREAK BACK! Madison Keys 7-6, 2-4 Coco Gauff*
11:37
,
Flo Clifford
A double fault, a ninth of this match, at the worst possible time. Keys has one of the breaks back.
Madison Keys 7-6, 1-4 Coco Gauff*
11:36
,
Flo Clifford
So, this was the point at which things turned in the first set, only with Keys 4-1 up with a double break and only a couple of points from a 5-1 lead.
Will we see a collapse from Gauff of the same order? Two errors mean Keys goes 0-30 up.
And a backhand at full stretch goes long, three break points for Keys... a booming serve saves one.
BREAK! *Madison Keys 7-6, 1-4 Coco Gauff
11:33
,
Flo Clifford
Keys is having a terrible time of it. Gauff has two break points. A clean down-the-line winner seals it.
Madison Keys 7-6, 1-3 Coco Gauff*
11:30
,
Flo Clifford
Gauff looks to be heading to a fairly straightforward hold, but it feels like the nerves are still there.
Keys hits a tricky backhand volley that Gauff tries to dig out, but can only hit into the net, and she nets another return for deuce.
Now Keys has a break point of her own with a superb cross-court forehand - but then hits long again, and again for game point for Gauff! The 30-year-old looks frustrated, and well she might.
Another Keys error, which feels inevitable, and Gauff digs herself out of a hole.
BREAK! *Madison Keys 7-6, 1-2 Coco Gauff
11:24
,
Flo Clifford
Oh dear. More Madi Keys errors on serve and Gauff has two break points.
She shanks a second serve into the net to waste one, but Keys hands over a tame break with another forehand long.
In all honesty, this has not been a particularly good match by either player.
Madison Keys 7-6, 1-1 Coco Gauff*
11:21
,
Flo Clifford
So how does Gauff respond? After that mammoth seven-minute game she quickly gets to 40-15 up, recovering from 15-0 down courtesy of some strong serving, including what might be her first ace of the match, out wide beyond Keys’ reach.
But Keys fights back and we’re at deuce again. Neither player can string together one entirely good game here.
Keys shunts a second serve into the net, a wasted chance, and knocks another one in to gift Gauff this game.
*Madison Keys 7-6, 1-0 Coco Gauff
11:18
,
Flo Clifford
And she digs herself out of trouble with another great serve, which Gauff can only knock into the net.
Somehow, Keys is alive in this one.
*Madison Keys 7-6 Coco Gauff
11:17
,
Flo Clifford
Keys redirects her compatriot well for advantage, Gauff stopping the point to challenge a Keys ball on the line. No luck for her, but Keys can’t put away what should be a simple ball across court with Gauff going the wrong way at the net. Instead she punts it beyond the tramlines. Deuce again.
Another unforced error from Gauff, and Keys has another chance to get out of this very tricky service game.
*Madison Keys 7-6 Coco Gauff
11:15
,
Flo Clifford
Another terrible forehand error, way wide, from Keys and it’s another break point chance for Gauff - but Keys plays a brilliant kick serve, almost beyond the doubles alley, and the second seed gets her return wrong. Deuce again.
SECOND SET: *Madison Keys 7-6 Coco Gauff
11:14
,
Flo Clifford
Despite winning that tiebreak Keys still looks tense, and a couple of errors on serve gift Gauff two break points. The 21-year-old has been the more consistent player by far; Keys has had her moments of brilliance but also some spectacular dips.
Keys positively launches the ball and the power pays off for 30-40, before fighting to deuce with some clutch serving. But she slams a high ball into the net for another break point.
She has Gauff on the run and a forehand winner gets her back to deuce.
FIRST SET! Madison Keys 7-6 (8-6) Coco Gauff
11:09
,
Flo Clifford
Wow. Gauff slams her return way wide of the tramline and Keys takes an incredibly edgy set 7-6 (8-6) in 58 minutes.
Keys had more unforced errors - 28 to Gauff’s 21 - but more winners, 12 to Gauff’s seven.
This feels like it could still go in absolutely any direction.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
11:07
,
Flo Clifford
Oh dear. A seventh double fault from Gauff and Keys has another set point at 7-6, on her serve.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
11:06
,
Flo Clifford
Keys finds her best tennis at the right time and has a set point of her own... but Gauff plays an incredibly low shot that just drops over the net and dies on the clay. 6-6.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
11:05
,
Flo Clifford
Both players mix it up a little with some slice backhands, before reverting to power-hitting. A 19th forehand error by Keys as she dumps it into the net. Gauff fist poumps and shouts ‘come on’.
Gauff’s defence is sublime, but just this once Keys has the better of her as the second seed launches an acutely-angled forehand wide at the end of a long rally. 5-5.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
11:03
,
Flo Clifford
Great winner by Keys; she needs to keep these rallies short, as Gauff is getting the better of her in the extended ones.
A second double fault of this tiebreak for Gauff means it’s back level at 4-4.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
11:01
,
Flo Clifford
WOW. Gauff sprints to a drop shot and knocks in another volley at full stretch, but Keys has the last laugh with a pitch-perfect forehand past Gauff with the second seed stranded at the net.
Keys is going for the blast your opponent off the court strategy, and when it works, it works - but it doesn’t work with equal frequency, and it’s not working now. 4-2 to Gauff as they change ends.
TIEBREAK: Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
10:59
,
Flo Clifford
A dreadful start by Gauff with a bad double fault.
But she digs deep in a rally, defending spectacularly, and a 24th unforced error by Keys - into the net - erases the advantage. 1-1.
*Madison Keys 6-6 Coco Gauff
10:57
,
Flo Clifford
Keys is having more success venturing further up the court, rather than being bullied at the baseline, and defends well for 0-15. But another inside-out forehand is emphatically wide and yet another error on that side puts Gauff up 15-30.
Then Keys plays an absolutely stunning winner, just kissing the sideline, and gets out of trouble with another thundering first serve.
A great rally by Keys - she’s rediscovered her level on the big points - and we’re heading to a first-set tiebreak.
Madison Keys 5-6 Coco Gauff*
10:53
,
Flo Clifford
After that five-minute service game from Keys, Gauff rattles to a love hold, and the pressure is back on the Australian Open champion to stay in this set.
*Madison Keys 5-5 Coco Gauff
10:51
,
Flo Clifford
Gauff has set point but Keys plays some fearless tennis with a solid kick serve to get back to deuce - and she forces a mishit from Gauff, after another strong serve, to earn game point.
Fabulous from Keys now as she runs up towards the net to retrieve an approach shot, and puts away a sublime forehand into the open court. Some clutch serving, and we’re back even.
*Madison Keys 4-5 Coco Gauff
10:49
,
Flo Clifford
Keys plays a more aggressive rally to start this game off as she serves to stay in this net, wisely leaving a Gauff volley to drift long, and it’s a better start from the seventh seed as Gauff hits long again for 30-0.
But another couple of errors, as the 21-year-old pushes her deep again, and she’s right back in it.
Another long, loopy forehand from Gauff... but Keys swings a forehand completely off the court, a dreadful error, for deuce.
Madison Keys 4-5 Coco Gauff*
10:44
,
Flo Clifford
Gauff goes 0-30 up on serve but double faults herself to let Keys back in. The nerves are evidently still there.
Keys tries another inside-out forehand, having had a fair bit of success with those, but can only punt it into the net.
Gauff seals the game with another great forehand winner, with Keys sliding around the baseline and pinned deep in the court, and she’s 5-4 up.
BREAK! *Madison Keys 4-4 Coco Gauff
10:41
,
Flo Clifford
A second double fault by Keys in this game alone, and it’s all square! 4-4 with half an hour played on Philippe-Chatrier.
Chris Evert says Keys’ game has gone from “spectacular to dismal”.
*Madison Keys 4-3 Coco Gauff
10:40
,
Flo Clifford
A double fault by Keys to open this service game. It feels like the momentum has swung, from when she was two points away from going 5-1 up.
Gauff hits a forehand winner for 0-30; she’s looking much more comfortable with it now.
But Keys slams a brilliant forehand of her own into the open court to prove she’s not going anywhere - then hits long to gift Gauff two break points. Zero consistency from her at the moment.
Madison Keys 4-3 Coco Gauff*
10:37
,
Flo Clifford
Keys swings a bit too freely and skies a forehand long, but Gauff’s serve is continuing to trouble her.
She has Keys sliding around deep in the court and plays a neat net volley that essentially dies on the Australian Open champ’s racquet for 40-30.
And Keys nets again, and Gauff is back in this match! A first hold for the 21-year-old.
BREAK BACK! *Madison Keys 4-2 Coco Gauff
10:33
,
Flo Clifford
Poor and long on the forehand from Keys and she looks annoyed at having lost a healthy lead in this game.
A great rally by both as Keys defends doggedly, but Gauff seals the break back with a smash at the net!
*Madison Keys 4-1 Coco Gauff
10:31
,
Flo Clifford
A much better rally from both players, Keys playing excellent defence to keep the ball in play, with Gauff ultimately swinging a forehand a bit too much and launching the ball beyond the baseline - maybe overcompensating for all those into the net.
Keys looks to have settled now with that 4-1 lead and she plays a great down the line winner, before Gauff responds with one of her own.
Gauff’s body language is quite deflated as she sends another forehand wide, but she plays a sweet return on a serve out wide that Keys can’t find an answer to. She’s worked her way back into this and Keys nets for deuce.
BREAK! Madison Keys 4-1 Coco Gauff*
10:26
,
Flo Clifford
Chris Evert, on TNT Sports comms, suggests that the fact that these two are compatriots is adding to the pressure both are feeling.
Keys hits a perfectly weighted shot from the net with Gauff stranded at the back of the court, and another double fault by the second seed puts Keys 0-30 up.
Gauff’s forehand is really letting her down at the moment and it finds the net again. Keys has the chance to break to love - and a third double hands the break over.
*Madison Keys 3-1 Coco Gauff
10:24
,
Flo Clifford
Keys does well with a net approach shot, pinning Gauff behind the baseline before smashing the ball into the open court, but Gauff fires back with a sweet drop shot, mixing things up a bit.
The former US Open champion knocks a forehand into the net, and another from a strong first serve by Keys, and the seventh seed holds to 30 - a first hold of this match.
BREAK BACK! Madison Keys 2-1 Coco Gauff*
10:20
,
Flo Clifford
Advantage Keys with another neat forehand winner, and Gauff dumps a volley from an awkwardly close angle into the net. Three breaks back-to-back.
Madison Keys 1-1 Coco Gauff*
10:19
,
Flo Clifford
A first double fault for Gauff as the pair’s struggles on serve continue.
The pair have unluckily been put in the slot of death, first up on Chatrier, and the atmosphere is pretty muted and echoey under the roof.
Keys’ forehand goes flying again for 30-30, her fifth unforced forehand error, and again for a sixth as it lands clear of the baseline.
Much better from Keys though and she plays a delightful forehand winner down the line, crisp and precise, for deuce.
BREAK BACK! *Madison Keys 1-1 Coco Gauff
10:16
,
Flo Clifford
It feels like this one is going to be a battle of serves. Keys double faults on her first service attempt, but Gauff can’t capitalise on a weak second serve and nets.
A nervy start from both; Keys has a golden opportunity for a forehand down the line but launches it wait long, and now Gauff has two break points of her own.
And Keys goes long on the exact same shot, simply applying too much power, and it’s one apiece!
Madison Keys 1-0 Coco Gauff*
10:12
,
Flo Clifford
A couple of long rallies to get us underway. Keys applies some early pressure with an effortless whipped forehand for 15-30.
Gauff nets on the following rally, and Keys has an early chance to break.
The first break point goes begging as the Australian Open champion tries to dig out a forehand down the line, but can only shove it into the net.
But Gauff punts a forehand into the net herself and Keys has an early break!
Madison Keys vs Coco Gauff*
10:09
,
Flo Clifford
A smattering of applause as both players walk out on court, both looking very composed. The roof is on Philippe-Chatrier, so the conditions will be slightly different.
After a very brief warm-up, the players are ready. Gauff to serve first.
*denotes current server
What else happened on Tuesday?
10:08
,
Flo Clifford
If you missed the rest of yesterday’s action, a quick recap: Carlos Alcaraz played the “perfect” tennis match as he needed just an hour and a half to dispatch 12th seed Tommy Paul in straight sets, saying, “I could close my eyes and everything went in”.
He’ll play eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti after he escaped being disqualified from the French Open after accidentally kicking a ball at a line judge during this quarter-final win over Frances Tiafoe.
Minutes to go
10:01