Paris, France – June 4: Coco Gauff of United States celebrates winning match point against Madison … More
American tennis star Coco Gauff reached the French Open semifinals for a second year in a row after beating compatriot Madison Keys 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 in Wednesday’s clash on the Parisian red clay.
Gauff, the second seed at the 2025 French Open, fought back after missing a set point in the opener to beat seventh seed Madison Keys in two hours and 11 minutes. The 21-year-old will face France’s Lois Boisson for a place in Saturday’s final.
With Wednesday’s victory in the all-American quarterfinal, Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, has reached her fifth Grand Slam semifinal overall, of which three have come on the Parisian clay. She is the youngest woman to claim 25 main-draw wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis (1995-2000).
Closed Roof
Play at Court Philippe-Chatrier began with the roof closed, prompting Gauff to lower her racquet tension in anticipation of slower conditions. But the youngster leaked 11 unforced errors in the first five games to go behind a 4-1 double break.
“I changed [the tension] at 4-1, and after that I had chances to win the first set,” Gauff said in an on-court interview.
“It’s difficult to find the tension and how you want to play … I thought with the roof closed it would play slower, which it did in some moments, but I felt it was quick too. Also, I was playing Madison, so I don’t know if that was the reason why!”
How Coco Gauff’s Comeback Unfolded
In the second set, Gauff was leading 4-1 with a double break before Keys registered a three-game run to level things at 4-4.
However, at that point, Gauff pulled off her best shot of the match — an angled backhand pass off a Keys smash — paving the way to break again. From thereon, she went on to win eight of the next nine games, out-foxing Keys with drop shots.
Coco Gauff And Madison Keys Had Lots Of Unforced Errors
While Gauff tightened up her game in the deciding set, it was a scrappy affair between the two players, as Keys tallied 25 winners to 60 unforced errors, while Gauff found 15 winners to 41 unforced errors (including 10 double faults).
“I’m happy to get through this match today, I have a lot more work to do, I’ll be ready tomorrow,” Gauff said after the match.
Gauff’s victory over this year’s Australian Open winner, Keys, also ended her 11-match winning streak at major tournaments. When she faces Frenchwoman Boisson in the last four, Gauff will be looking to improve on her result from last year, when she lost to Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
The second 2025 French Open semifinal will be between top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and four-time French Open champion Swiatek.
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