Defending champion Coco Gauff was dramatically eliminated from the French Open in the third round, losing to Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 on Saturday. The American struggled to find her best form on a day when several top seeds had already fallen.

“I don’t know. I had chances,” Gauff said after the loss. “Just trying to capitalise more on these good points that I was hitting and not quite finishing… that was the difference.” Potapova, who fired powerful groundstrokes, said: “Coco’s such a champion, and I respect her so much. I’m unbelievably proud of myself that I stayed there and that I was fighting until the last point.”

World number one Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, cruised past Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5 to reach the fourth round. The win was her 100th as the top-ranked woman, making her only the ninth player to achieve the feat since the WTA rankings began. She joined an elite list including Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Justine Henin and Iga Swiatek.

In men’s action, 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. He will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who won his own epic 6-4, 6-7(9), 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(10-8) over Martin Landaluce in a match lasting nearly six hours.

French 17-year-old Moise Kouame fell to Alejandro Tabilo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11-9), but local fans celebrated Diane Parry’s upset of sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(10-3). Former world number one Naomi Osaka, wearing an all-gold outfit, battled past American teen Iva Jovic 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4.

Source: www.aljazeera.com