French Open: Gauff fights back to level with Keys in first set - radio & text

BBC News

04-06-2025

Update:
Date: 10:45 BST
Title: 'Added pressure' playing a friend
Content: *Keys 4-5 Gauff
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
There are nerves in play anyway when you get to this stage of a Grand Slam tournament, but when you know the other person so well there is added pressure.
You're trying to feel yourself into the psychology of your opponent, who is also your friend, and it makes things awkward.
Update:
Date: 10:44 BST
Title: Gauff holds
Content: *Keys 4-5 Gauff
Momentum does appear to have shifted to Coco Gauff's side of the court as Madison Keys continues to allow errors to slip into her game.
Gauff steps up the court, adjusts her feet to get around the ball and whips a forehand winner into the corner.
That's four games in a row and the first time she has led in this match.
From 4-1 down to 5-4 up.
Update:
Date: 10:41 BST
Title: 'Momentum has shifted'
Content: Keys 4-4 Gauff*
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Madison Keys hasn't adapted to the quicker groundstrokes of Coco Gauff since she went 4-1 up.
The momentum has completely shifted. Everything has turned around.
Gauff looks completely in control.
Update:
Date: 10:41 BST
Title: Gauff breaks
Content: Keys 4-4 Gauff*
A double fault from Madison Keys and that advantage has slipped away.
We're back on serve.
This opening set has been so hard to predict.
Update:
Date: 10:40 BST
Title: Break points Gauff
Content: *Keys 4-3 Gauff
It feels like this opening set is swinging back in Coco Gauff's direction after winning back-to-back games but Madison Keys is still up a break of serve.
But for how much longer?
Gauff has two break points.
Update:
Date: 10:37 BST
Title: Gauff holds
Content: *Keys 4-3 Gauff
Coco Gauff is still yet to win a game on serve, though. Can she address that here to put a bit of pressure on Madison Keys?
Gauff seems to be getting the better of Madison Keys when they engage in long rallies.
The first hold of the match for the 21-year-old.
Update:
Date: 10:33 BST
Title: Gauff breaks
Content: Keys 4-2 Gauff*
And that aggressive approach pays dividends for Coco Gauff as she has Madison Keys sliding one way and then the other across the baseline before slamming a volley at the net to break.
Game on?
Update:
Date: 10:32 BST
Title: Gauff 'taking more aggressive stance'
Content: Keys 4-1 Gauff*
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
You can see the tactical adjustment Coco Gauff is making.
Just putting the ball in the court will not cut it today against Madison Keys.
Gauff is taking a much more aggressive stance in this game.
Update:
Date: 10:32 BST
Title: Break point Gauff
Content: Keys 4-1 Gauff*
Madison Keys is guilty of putting too much on her forehand this time and Coco Gauff has a chance to break back.
Update:
Date: 10:31 BST
Title: Deuce
Content: Keys 4-1 Gauff*
Madison Keys continues to dominate, picking up her eighth successive point to lead 30-0. Coco Gauff finally halts that streak with a beautiful forehand into the corner.
But that is swiftly followed a 15th unforced error of the match from Gauff. A lack of consistency from the 2023 US Open champion.
Gauff digs deep to fight back to deuce.
Update:
Date: 10:28 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Keys 4-1 Gauff
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Coco Gauff hasn't quite progressed from the beginning of this match when there was hesistancy on both players' arms and racquets.
Not so much anymore from Madison Keys.
Update:
Date: 10:27 BST
Title: Keys breaks
Content: *Keys 4-1 Gauff
A second double fault of the match sees Coco Gauff broken for the third time.
Madison Keys is firmly in the driving seat.
Update:
Date: 10:26 BST
Title: Break points Keys
Content: *Keys 3-1 Gauff
This game feels crucial for how the opening set could pan out.
Another break for Madison Keys puts her 4-1 up and back on serve.
Ah.
Coco Gauff is growing more and more frustrated as she trails 40-0. Three break points for Keys.
Update:
Date: 10:24 BST
Title: Keys holds
Content: Keys 3-1 Gauff*
Coco Gauff trails 30-15 but takes matters into her own hands with a booming forehand to send Madison Keys chasing deep beyond the baseline before wrapping up the point with a drop shot winner.
Keys goes on to hold - the first from either player in the match as the fourth game concludes.
Update:
Date: 10:22 BST
Title: 'I realised she was a potential future star'
Content: *Keys 2-1 Gauff
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
I played Coco Gauff in the semi-finals when she won her first title in Linz (in 2019).
I practiced with her when she was 14 in Miami. I realised this was not just any 14-year-old. This was a potential future star. A year later she got to the Wimbledon fourth round.
The athleticism was from a different planet, she was so focused, so locked in.
Update:
Date: 10:21 BST
Title: Keys breaks
Content: *Keys 2-1 Gauff
The curse on serve continues when Coco Gauff puts a backhand into the net.
Can Madison Keys build on the break this time?
Update:
Date: 10:19 BST
Title: Break point Keys
Content: *Keys 1-1 Gauff
A first double fault of the match by Coco Gauff adds further to the feeling that both are still just finding their feet on serve.
Madison Keys is struggling to find her range with her forehand - a sixth unforced error of the match sees her fall 40-30 behind but she battles back to deuce and then whips a winner down the line.
Update:
Date: 10:16 BST
Title: Gauff breaks
Content: Keys 1-1 Gauff*
And Coco Gauff gets it.
Madison Keys is long with her forehand and we're back on serve.
Are we seeing some early nerves from both sides of the net?
Update:
Date: 10:15 BST
Title: Break back points Gauff
Content: Keys 1-0 Gauff*
Maddison Keys and Coco Gauff have already met once on this clay-court swing. Keys won that encounter at the Madrid Open in three sets.
Gauff seems to have found her groove now and has an opportunity to break back.
Update:
Date: 10:15 BST
Title: 'Hesistancy between countrywomen'
Content: *Keys 1-0 Gauff
Andrea PetkovicFormer world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Madison Keys, contrary to other women on the Tour, prefers a slightly higher bounce, which Coco Gauff gives her.
You see it often between countrymen or countrywomen, there is a bit of hesistancy in early stages of the match. You know each other so well, between friends, between colleagues.