Coco Gauff enters maiden Grand Slam semi-final after a convincing win over Sloane Stephens in the 2022 French Open
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Coco Gauff
World No. 23 Coco Gauff advances to her first-ever semi-final as the teen sensation defeats her compatriot Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals of the 2022 French Open. Gauff won the match 7-5, 6-2 in 1 hour and 29 minutes. Gauff had triple match points but Sloane could save only one of those as the teen defeated the former runner-up.
Stephens exits without a single ace in the match while making 1 double fault, winning 3 of the 9 breakpoints, hitting 16 winners while making 31 unforced errors. Gauff hit 3 aces, 6 double faults, converted 6 of her 10 breakpoints, hit 18 winners and committed 23 unforced errors but still prevails through to the semi-finals.
“I am so happy right now, words can’t explain. Last year in the quarter-finals, it was a tough loss for me and I think that match really made me stronger and made me better prepared for moments like today and moments that I will face in the next round. Last time I played her, (Sloane) I lost so I am glad it went different.
“Honestly, I just told myself this thing that there will be some shots that I should have made and there will be some shots that she gets in the court and probably no other player gets in the court so I think it was a moment of challenge of today. I believe in myself but I think the last year, I was trying to fulfil other people’s expectations, I think you should just enjoy life. I mean, I know no matter how good or bad my career is, I am a great person so I think that’s a message for all young players out there.
“Even in life in general, your results, your job or how much money you make doesn’t define you as a person, if you just love yourself, who cares what others think. I know how hard it was to do school and play tennis on the road and I think sometimes other players get another side of life, we think tennis is the most important thing in world, which it is not so I think getting my high school diploma meant a lot to me,” said Gauff in a matured on-court interview hosted by 3-time French Open champion Mats Wilander.
Coco Gauff gets a chance to exact revenge in the semi-finals
With the win over Stephens, Gauff will now play Italian player Martina Trevisan in the semi-finals in what will be the second meeting between them. They last met in the 2020 French Open, a tournament debut for both players with Trevisan winning their second-round encounter in 3-sets.
While Martina was taken to 3-sets in her quarter-final clash against Leylah Fernandez, Gauff reaches the last-4 without dropping a single set and will look to extend her run further and reach her first-ever Grand Slam final as well.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)