Defending champion Gauff out of French Open as Sabalenka hits milestone

Defending champion Coco Gauff exited the French Open on Saturday, May 31, 2026, losing in the third round to Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 at Roland Garros. The three-set defeat continued a turbulent stretch for top names at this year’s tournament after earlier losses for Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. In contrast, world number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the last 16 with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Daria Kasatkina, marking her 100th career victory while ranked No. 1.

Gauff’s departure reshapes the women’s draw and heightens the focus on four-time champion Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka as frontrunners for the Suzanne Lenglen Cup. Potapova’s win, secured in two hours and 37 minutes, pushes her into the second week as a credible dark-horse threat.

The fourth seed could not close out the match after taking the opening set 6-4, with Potapova leveling by dominating the second-set tiebreak before edging the decider. The result is one of the most notable upsets of the first week and removes the defending titleholder from contention before the round of 16.

Sabalenka’s progress, meanwhile, underlined her consistency at the top of the rankings. Her straight-sets win over Kasatkina delivered a notable milestone and reinforced her status as the chief challenger to Swiatek on clay.

Potapova stuns titleholder in three sets

Two-hour, 37-minute battle and a pivotal tiebreak

Potapova applied early pressure and kept rallies on her terms long enough to flip the match after Gauff’s strong start. The second-set tiebreak proved the hinge point, with Potapova racing through it 7-1 to force a decider she would close out 6-4.

Gauff, seeded fourth, had chances to reassert control but could not consistently finish points in the key passages. Potapova’s depth from the baseline and willingness to take the ball early drew errors and gradually shifted momentum away from the defending champion.

Sabalenka reaches last 16 with landmark

Ninth player to hit 100 wins as world No. 1

Sabalenka dismissed Kasatkina in straight sets on Court Suzanne Lenglen, opening with a 6-0 set before closing 7-5. The victory marked her 100th match win as the tour’s top-ranked player, a benchmark reached by only a small group since the inception of the WTA rankings.

The performance keeps Sabalenka on track for a deep run and, coupled with Gauff’s defeat, sharpens the narrative of a potential duel with Swiatek in the closing stages. Her improved shot tolerance on clay and more reliable serve under pressure have been evident through the first week.

Elsewhere in Paris

Five-set marathons and the end of a teen’s run

On the men’s side, Matteo Berrettini outlasted Francisco Comesana 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(15-13) in five hours and 13 minutes to set up a meeting with Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who edged Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(10-8). Francisco Cerundolo fell 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 to Zachary Svajda.

In other women’s results, Diane Parry defeated sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10-3). Madison Keys held off 19-year-old Victoria Mboko 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, while Naomi Osaka overcame Iva Jovic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4.

Elsewhere, Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of French 17-year-old Moise Kouame 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11-9). Flavio Cobolli beat Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, and Matteo Arnaldi defeated Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-7(5), 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(10-4).

With the first week closing, attention shifts to whether Potapova can extend her surge and if Swiatek and Sabalenka can hold their lines as the draw narrows toward the second week’s decisive rounds.