Coco Gauff has cemented her place in tennis history by becoming the youngest player in 25 years to earn 25 career wins at the French Open, following a dramatic quarterfinal victory over fellow American Madison Keys.
The 21-year-old Gauff battled back from early struggles to defeat Keys in three sets—6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1—securing a place in the semifinals at Roland Garros for the second consecutive year.
Despite a shaky performance that included 10 double faults and 41 unforced errors, Gauff relied on resilience and mental strength to prevail in the high-pressure moments.
With the win, she joins elite company. The last player to reach 25 French Open victories at such a young age was five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, who achieved the feat in 2000 at the age of 19.
“I’m very happy to get through it,” Gauff said in her post-match interview. “It was not an easy match and I’m just so excited to be in the semifinals back here again. I have a lot more work left to do but I’m going to savor this one today.”
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The match was a rollercoaster. After losing a tight first set in a tiebreak, Gauff surged to a 4-1 lead in the second set but briefly faltered, allowing Keys to level the score.
Gauff responded by breaking serve once again to take control and eventually even the match. The third set was all hers, as she dominated to seal the milestone win.
The rising star is set to face French wild card Lois Boisson in Thursday’s semifinal. Gauff enters the match as the favorite but remains focused, knowing that every opponent at this level poses a serious threat.
Beyond her growing accolades, Gauff’s maturity and determination have been widely praised. Known for her poise and fighting spirit, she has become one of the standout figures of the new generation in women’s tennis. With her current form and experience on clay, she could be poised to make her deepest run yet in Paris.
As Gauff eyes a potential Grand Slam title, fans and analysts alike are marveling at the young American’s rapid ascent in a sport that demands both physical endurance and mental clarity. If her trajectory continues, more historic milestones could be just around the corner.
SportsIllustrated
