By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, Could 28, 2026
Picture credit score: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
A composed Coco Gauff stopped screaming sound with centered flurry right now.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Gauff sped by eight of the final 10 video games, muting Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-2 to achieve the third spherical for the sixth straight yr.
Making use of her adaptability and flexibility, Gauff defused Sherif, who owns a hellaciously heavy topspin forehand, excessive western group and a booming grunt she generally emits after contact.
It’s Gauff’s ninth consecutive French Open win propelling her right into a third-round conflict vs. both Twenty eighth-seeded Austrian Anastasia Potapova or Briton Katie Boulter for a fourth-round spot.
The fourth-seeded Gauff struck with depth and coated the courtroom with dynamic motion. Gauff transformed seven of 13 break factors and pumped 23 winners—18 greater than her opponent.
It’s Gauff’s eightieth profession main foremost draw victory. She is the primary lady since Maria Sharapova on the 2008 Australian Open to publish 80 main match wins earlier than turning 23. Twenty-nine of Gauff’s 80 Grand Slam wins have are available Paris the place she owns a 29-5 profession mark.
American ladies delivered pink, white and terre battue success right now.
4 American ladies—Gauff, US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova, 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys and Seventeenth-seeded Iva Jovic—every scored straight units wins to affix former Texas all American Peyton Stearns within the third spherical. No. Thirtieth-seeded American Ann Li, who beat four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in Madrid, fell to Frenchwoman Diane Parry, 6-3, 6-4, on Court docket Philippe Chatrier after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner collapsed and crashed out of the second spherical.
The sixth-seeded Anismova led Julia Grabher 6-0 when the 121st-ranked Austrian retired as a consequence of obvious heat-related sickness. Former Roland Garros semifinalist Anisimova will tackle Parry for a spot within the spherical of 16.
“I really feel like my tennis is the place I would like it to be and hopefully I can hold it going,” Anisimova mentioned. “I’m blissful to be right here, to be wholesome and excited for some difficult matches.”
In a blockbuster all-American second-rounder, Jovic charged by 9 straight video games defeating Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3.
The 18-year-old Jovic avenged her three-set loss to Navarro in Strasbourg final week. Contesting simply her seventh WTA foremost attract a clay-court occasion, Jovic will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka for a fourth spherical spot.
“By no means performed her earlier than. Clearly seen her play a ton, however no, by no means even practiced together with her, so it is going to be a bit bit unknown for each of us,” Jovic mentioned. “Clearly one of many cleanest ball strikers on tour. She has nice offense, so hopefully I can’t let her, you understand, strike and do what she will be able to do very properly.
“Hopefully I could make her a bit uncomfortable. It’s going to be a battle. Yeah, let’s see. Hopefully I can simply hold the extent up.”
The reigning champion charged out to a 3-0 lead right now.
The Egyptian qualifier broke again on a Gauff error to get again on serve at 2-3.
Throughout a draining 14-minute sixth sport, Gauff trampolined off the terre battue for a pair of Marcelo Rios-style leaping backhands incomes a break level.
At that time, a fan apparently fell ailing within the stands close to the courtroom prompting suspension of play. After a few 10-minute delay play resumed and Sherif saved break level with a forehand volley.
Dealing with a fifth break level, Sherif despatched a scrambling Gauff sprinting nook to nook the place the reigning champion cracked a crosscourt backhand cross breaking with defensive dazzle for 4-2.
The pair exchanged breaks as Gauff prolonged her result in 5-3.
Serving for the set, Gauff adopted a pointy slice serve to internet for the shock serve-and-volley play gaining triple set level.
Torching an ace down the T, Gauff closed the set in 64 minutes with a bang.
Regardless of successful simply one in all eight second serve factors, Gauff thumped her groundstrokes with vigor hitting 13 winners—two greater than Sherif, who received 11 of 12 journeys to internet.
4 straight service breaks began the second set as Sherif spun an outstanding sharp-angled backhand cross to interrupt the champ and forge a 2-all tie.
That was actually the qualifier’s final stand as Gauff elevated her stage to a spot that eluded the Egyptian.
Streaking ahead, Gauff drilled a forehand drive forehand volley winner for the primary maintain of the set and a 4-2 lead.
Wilting within the face of searing warmth and Gauff’s unrelenting courtroom protection, Sherif sprayed photographs past the sidelines as Gauff broke once more for 5-2.
On match level, Gauff closed a robust plot, hanging her signature shot, the two-handed backhand down the road to seal a one hour, 50-minute victory.
