Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Jonathan Jurejko
- Role, BBC Sport journalist at Roland Garros
American third seed Coco Gauff reached the French Open semi-finals after recovering to beat Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in an absorbing contest.
Gauff, 20, showed her maturity and mentality to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
After a superb opening set from eighth seed Jabeur, Gauff continued to believe in her game and took advantage of her opponent’s level dipping.
Gauff was unable to convert a match point on Jabeur’s serve at 5-2 in the decider, and survived a break point at 5-3, before getting over the line when her opponent dumped an overhead long.
A passionate roar as the US Open champion celebrated in the middle of the court indicated the magnitude of the test she had come through.
“She’s a tough opponent,” said Gauff, who saw Jabeur save a second match point before missing on the third.
“I was trying to be more aggressive, she was playing really well and hitting a lot of winners – which I’m not used to.
“I got a little bit tight but I did what I needed to do.”
Gauff, who was the runner-up in 2022, is aiming for her second major title after claiming the title in New York last year.
She will play Polish top seed Iga Swiatek, who beat her in the final two years ago, or Czech fifth seed Marketa Vondrousova in the last four.
Boisterous atmosphere inspires Gauff
Gauff has followed up winning the Grand Slam title which her prodigious talent had long promised with another strong season on the WTA Tour.
Now, after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in January, she has moved into the last four at a third successive major tournament.
She did it on the Paris clay by recovering from dropping a set for the first time this fortnight.
Jabeur played superbly in the opening set, absorbing Gauff’s power from the baseline with her forehand and serving strongly to give her opponent little chance on return.
In a city with a huge Tunisian population, Jabeur always receives passionate support and her fans celebrated her winning the set by singing a popular football-style terrace chant.
Gauff says the atmosphere also inspired her.
“Whenever I’m not playing, I cheer for Ons too so thank you guys for making it a great atmosphere. I like playing in atmospheres like this,” she told the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
“I know you wanted her to win but even when I was in the bathroom [after the first set] I was thinking this is really fun, win or lose.”
Three-time major finalist Jabeur has endured a tough season because of a niggling knee injury and struggled for form before rediscovering her level at Roland Garros.
However, the 29-year-old was unable to sustain the pressure she put Gauff under.
Struggling to land as many first serves, and beginning to make rash decisions in her returning, was costly as Gauff turned the match around.