Gauff suffers shock defeat to Anastasia Potapova at Roland Garros

A major upset occurred in the third round of Roland Garros 2026. World No. 30 Anastasia Potapova defeated the defending champion and world No. 4, Coco Gauff of the United States.

The match was intense and hard-fought. In a contest lasting 2 hours and 39 minutes, Gauff took the first set 6-4. However, Anastasia Potapova did not give up, winning the second-set tie-break 7-1 to force a deciding third set.

The final set was also highly competitive. However, the world No. 30 remained composed during crucial moments, winning 6-4. Thus, she eliminated the defending champion with a score of 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

This result was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, as Coco Gauff was not only the defending champion but also one of the top favorites for this year's Roland Garros. Many saw her as the primary rival to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the title.

There was good reason for such expectations. Last year, Gauff defeated Sabalenka in an exciting and tense Roland Garros final to claim the trophy. This time, however, the American tennis player's title defense ended prematurely on the courts of Paris.

In the next round, the winner will face Russian player Anna Kalinskaya. Kalinskaya is currently ranked 24th in the world, and it is certain that the next match will not be easy either.

In short, a major sensation occurred at Roland Garros: Coco Gauff exited the tournament in the third round. This is a heavy blow for the defending champion and a great opportunity for her opponent, Anastasia Potapova. The courts of Paris have once again proven that being a favorite in tennis is no guarantee of victory.