Coco Gauff’s fantasy run in the French Open came to an end on Wednesday because she lost in straight sets to Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.
The 17-year-old was playing her first grand slam quarterfinal, but trailing 4-0 in the second group, a defeated Gauff smashed her racquet on the clay court after she double-faulted.
Gauff conducted her competitor near the opening series, with Krejcikova having a stunning tiebreak to achieve the upper hand in the game.
In the next group, the Czech participant frees up the pressure on her younger competition, winning the first five matches without response.
However, the American revealed expertise to belie her age, rescue multiple game points, and winning three consecutive games to create things nervy until Krejcikova maintained the next set’s critical ninth game to make it to the semifinals.
“I never envisioned I’d be standing here 1 day,” that the 25-year-old Krejcikova stated in the courtroom following her success.
“Already for me personally, this is something I have not wanted. I was actually enjoying a fantastic game and Coco is amazing — she’s 17, it is wonderful.”
Breaking through
The two players were playing in their first career singles grand slam quarterfinals. By reaching the last eight years, Gauff was the youngest girl to compete at a grand slam quarterfinal because 2006.
Despite her age, the 17-year-old Gauff did not look strange on the huge point on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The No. 24 seed held 3-0 and 5-3 leads from the opening series, but Krejcikova fought, saving five match points before finally taking the 72-minute set.
That actually seemed to kick the entire world No. 33 right into equipment.
She seemed far more comfortable in the next group, manipulating the ball will, together with Gauff trying hard to get any momentum.
And top 5-0 in the second group and needing only one more match to achieve her first singles grand slam semifinal, that seemed like a formality for Krejcikova with Gauff appearing rattled.
But, Gauff revealed remarkable durability and strength to store multiple match points to win three consecutive games and indicates a previously unthinkable restoration could just be possible.
But it wasn’t to be and on Krejcikova’s sixth game point the Czech player clinched the game after an hour and 50 minutes.
Krejcikova will face defending champion Iga Swiatek or Greece’s Maria Sakkari to get a place at the final at Roland Garros.
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