Coco Gauff’s French Open title defense ends in 3rd-round loss

Coco Gauff’s title defence at the French Open ended in the third round on Thursday after a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Germany’s Tatjana Maria. The 20-year-old American, who reached her first Grand Slam final here last year before falling to Iga Świątek, struggled with unforced errors and was ultimately outplayed by the more experienced Maria on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Gauff’s exit marks the latest in a series of early upsets at Roland Garros, as the women’s draw continues to defy expectations in the early stages.

Maria, ranked 65th in the world, showed composure under pressure, converting four of her seven break points while Gauff managed just one from six opportunities. The German veteran, playing in her third French Open main draw, dictated rallies with her deep groundstrokes and precise drop shots, exposing gaps in Gauff’s game. The younger American, who had entered the tournament as one of the title favourites, was left frustrated by her opponent’s consistent play, particularly in the second set where Maria broke twice to close out the contest.

Despite the disappointment, Gauff remains a prominent figure in women’s tennis and is expected to rebound strongly in upcoming tournaments. Her exit, however, adds another layer of unpredictability to the women’s side of the draw, where several high seeds have already fallen. Maria, who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2022, will next face either Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo or wildcard Diane Parry for a place in the quarter-finals.

The defeat underscores the fine margins in elite tennis, where even top-ranked players can be undone by a single off-day. As the tournament progresses, the focus will shift to the remaining contenders, including Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, who are among the few top seeds still in contention. Gauff’s early departure serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Grand Slam tennis.