The American Coco Gauff, 3rd player in the world, qualified for the semi-finals of Roland-Garros on Tuesday, beating Tunisian Ons Jabeur (9th) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Gauff, 20, finalist of the event in 2022 and winner of the US Open in 2023, will face world No.1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek or the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (6th) in the next round.
She did not have an easy time getting rid of Jabeur, who had not been seen performing so well for several months, she who had difficulty digesting her defeat in the Wimbledon final last year, the third in a Grand Slam.
“She was a tough opponent and I know she had your support”commented Gauff while addressing the audience.
For her first quarter-final at Roland-Garros, the 29-year-old Tunisian bravely played her luck. Proactive and more solid in the rallies, Jabeur won the first set after breaking in the seventh game.
Gauff, who dominated in the round of 16 in Paris in 2021, then knew how to step on the accelerator, notably by going to the net more often. Rewarded with a break (3-1) then a second (4-2), after having again given in on her commitment (3-2), she was able to maintain this advantage to equalize.
In the last set, the American did not ease the pressure, once again seizing Jabeur’s serve. The latter ended up giving in, not without having saved two match points, by continuing to attack.
The Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals of the Roland-Garros tournament against the American Coco Gauff on the Philippe-Chatrier court on June 4, 2024 in Paris / Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP
“I tried to be more aggressive because she continued to hit winning shots. I did what I had to do to win.”welcomed Gauff.
