Gauff dominating from the back

New York Times

02-06-2025

Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula were all victorious on Day 7 at the French Open in Paris Getty Images
It was an exciting final day of third-round action to conclude the first week of the 2025 French Open. Coco Gauff (2) advanced in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (3) over Marie Bouzková. Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula won their respective matches in three sets after dropping the opener.
In the nightcap, Novak Djokovic won his 99th match at Roland Garros in straight sets to advance to a 16th consecutive second week.
There are eight Americans (five men, three women) into the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, the most since 1985. The fields in the men's and women's singles draws are now down to 16, all vying to become French Open champions. Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms
3-2 up in the tie-break and each of them have been gruelling exchanges from the back of the court.
The two she has conceded were just unforced errors, firing long and dropping a slice into the net. Getty Images
It wasn't an easy service hold for Sofia Kenin. She let some angst out, tapping her racquet on the clay after Madison Keys got a winner.
But Kenin was eventually able to hold as Keys dumped an unforced error in the net. Kenin leads 5-4 and is one game away from a place in the Roland Garros fourth round.
Incredible effort.
Gauff holds to love, a whole lot more routine. And off we go to a breaker, based on the quality of the high-pressure moments in this match so far, it looks sure to be a thrilling one. Getty Images
And most importantly, denies Gauff the opportunity to serve for the match. It's a pretty gruelling one, some lengthy rallies in there, and Bouzková giving absolutely everything to try and take this to a decider.
Gauff now serving to take this to a tie-break.
Sofia Kenin leads 4-3 in the final set after a convincing service hold. That's a big confidence boost for Kenin after giving the break back to Madison Keys.
Even though Keys feels like the more in control player at the moment, Kenin isn't going away. She's battling and mixing up shots, evidenced by that drop shot at 30-0 which forced Keys to go on the run, leading to the point.
A long way to go in this match.
Pretty breathless stuff here. Really tense, Gauff has twice taken advantage but been outlasted by some truly inspired defending by Bouzková. The crowd are loving it, and the Czech now has advantage... Getty Images
That might be Madison Keys' best return of the match. Down 15-40 and facing second serve, Keys delivers a down the line backhand winner to break Sofia Kenin. Keys' has struggled with her backhand today but there was no doubt that was going to be a winner.
A disappointing service game for Kenin, who committed some loose unforced errors. Back on serve 3-2 in the final set.
That tends to be how this funny old game works. Gauff holds to love. Of course she does!
An excellent response, again, from Gauff. She's dictating so many of the exchanges at the back of the court, but Bouzková's defence is really good, which is forcing the American into some unforced errors.
It goes to a nervy deuce, Gauff continues to push Bouzková into the corners, and with a mighty forehand down the line, the 21-year-old ensures the sequence of breaks continues.
She has to hold now... something she hasn't done in the last hour or so... Getty Images
After Madison Keys wins the second set 6-3 to force a third and decider, Sofia Kenin starts off on the right foot. She holds serve and then immediately breaks Madison Keys to go up 2-0 in the final set.
It's clear Kenin is attacking Keys' backhand side, which has let her down today. Getty Images
WOW, what an awful way to concede a break. You can see just how much that has frustrated Gauff.
30-40 down, but in a prime spot to take it to deuce. She's up at the net, pinning back Bouzková who can only float back. The first smash is well returned by the Czech, and it almost seems Gauff overthinks as she's winding up to thump home, opting to fire down the line into a narrow pocket, rather than the whole court to her left.
She blasts it wide, and the Chatrier crowd seem pretty shocked by that one.
It isn't working out for either on the serve. Bouzková went 0-30 behind and, with the help of a couple of excellent backhands down the line, worked her way back level.
A double fault, her second of the game, put pay to that good work, however. Gauff completes the break and they are now back as they were. Neither Gauff nor Bouzková have held since the opening game of the set. If Gauff holds here, that will feel significant.
Gauff 6-1 3-4 Bouzková
Just as Gauff looks to pull herself back into the set, she's broken for a third consecutive service game.
No double faults this time, just some sturdy Bouzková resilience. The American looked comfortable serving in the first set, but that is now firmly out the window. Still, she leads 0-30 in the subsequent game, so she is certainly not the only one faltering.
Gauff with the chance to seal a break-back, but Bouzková putting absolutely everything on the line to deny the chance.
The Czech approaches, and Gauff has a bit of time to measure her response. Her lob, however, is delightfully cut short as Bouzková retreats on the volley, and Gauff is drawn in. The No.2 opts to try and drop her opponent, but Bouzková reads it, racing forward and hitting deep into the corner. Nobody is getting to that, very well calculated.
It comes to nought for the No.47 though. Despite being chalked back to deuce, Gauff romps home the break in timely fashion. The set could have got away from her, but she responds astutely. Getty Images
The Czech is certainly not being dispatched quite as easily as she was in the first. It took Gauff just 28 minutes to clinch the opener, they're already at 24 minutes in the second set with Bouzková 3-1 up, twice breaking the American.
Gauff takes a moment, wipes her face with her towel, and gets back on court. A hike in double faults (4) and unforced errors (12), suddenly Bouzková seems to have something to latch onto. A bit more conviction in her strikes, and in with a chance of levelling here.
Down 0-40, Madison Keys comes back to hold serve to go up 2-1. Talk about digging deep for the current Australian Open champion. Keys fires a blazing forehand winner to clinch the game, staving off four break point opportunities.
For Sofia Kenin, she will be thinking about that golden opportunity to break at 30-40. She had a wide-open right side of the court and had all the time in the world to hit a clean forehand. Instead, Kenin dumped a forehand in the net.
Could that be the swing in momentum Keys needs to get back in this match? Getty Images
It's turning into a slog at Suzanne Lenglen. Sofia Kenin holds serve against Madison Keys, despite tossing in three (yes three) double faults. Kenin is 5 for 5 on break points saved.
Madison Keys continues to struggle on her backhand side. She's just not getting the top spin and hitting several backhands into the net.
Kenin is taking advantage and it is 1-1 in this second set. The unforced errors total is 21-17 in favor of Kenin. Not the most high-quality tennis at the moment. Getty Images
These photographers are taking up some unfathomable angles. Here is Gauff — horizontally — serving in the first set. Getty Images
It's been rock-solid by Gauff so far this afternoon. She takes the first set 6-1, breaking her counterpart's serve twice and holding firm on her own.
Just the one double fault so far too, which can often throw up a few freebies to her opponent. She'll no doubt we pleased with this, a strong week for the No.2 so far.