Coco Gauff is at the brink of greatness at the Frenc🍬⛎h Open.
Gauff has yet to drop a set on her way to the semifi💝nals at Roland Garros after knocking off fellow American Slo🎀ane Stephens 7-5, 6-2 on Tuesday.
“I am just enjoying life,” the 18-year-old Gauff told Tennis Channel after the victory. “Before I would be so hyper-focused, wouldn’t even walk around the city because it was just (all about) tennis, tennis, tennis.”
Gauff wil𒀰l next face another first-time semifinalist in Martina Trevisan, who earlier beat Leylah Fernandez. Gauff will likely be favored over the unseeded Italian and has a chance to pay off the promise that many saw in the Georgia native when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019.
Gauff built 🐭early leads in both sets and Stephens ಌmade errors at key points on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 18th-⛦seeded Ga𒁃uff led 3-1 in the second set when Stephens missed an opportunity to get back on serve, sending a drive volley long on her third break-point chance before Gauff won the next two points.
“Just staying composed,” Gauff said about the closing games. “Got a little nervous. At the changeover I just told myself to focus on the moment.”
Stephens had w🅺on three straight games to even the first set at 5-5 but Gauff won the next seven points and broke for the set. Stephens missed a backhand volley to hand Gauff her first set-point opportunity.
The 29-year-old Stephens, the former No. 3, won at Flushing Meadows in 2017 and was the runner-u꧟p at Roland Garros th👍e next year.
Tennis C🐬hannel analyst Lindsay Davenport has also noticed a difference in Gauff.
“She’s been waiting for her time,” Davenport said. “She’s almost wanted it too bad (in the past).”
Gauff’s time could be now.
— With AP