PARIS — Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff lost in three sets to Austrian Anastasia Potapova to end her Roland Garros title defense on Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam winner was defeated in the third round, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, by the 28th seed after being a break up in the deciding set.
Gauff insisted afterwards that being the defending champion had not affected her play, unlike in 2024 when she went into the US Open as the title-holder.
"I think at the US Open it did a lot more but honestly this time it didn't. I wasn't really nervous," fourth seed Gauff told reporters.
"That's what's more frustrating because I felt like I learned a lot from that US Open experience and I'm a better player since then and I just don't think I portrayed that today."
Despite losing her first service game to open the match, Gauff struck back to break the Russian-born Austrian in the eighth and 10th games and take the lead.
Potapova responded with two consecutive breaks of her own to race 3-0 ahead at the start of the second frame.
The 25-year-old's serve then deserted her as well, as the next five games all produced breaks, with Potapova passing up two set points behind her own delivery.
"I think I've had a few (big wins) before, but I'd put it top three for sure," Potapova said on court after earning a career third win over Gauff.
Potapova said the secret to victory for her was ignoring the score.
"I kept on saying to myself that I don't need to focus on the scoreboard, just focus on every point," she said.
"If you manage to do that, then maybe I will get my chances to win. So, yeah, the key was just stay in the moment no matter what is going on and try your best.
Potapova will meet Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in the quarterfinals. AFP
