Anastasia Potapova, the 28th seed from Russia, defeated defending champion Coco Gauff in the third round of Roland Garros on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The match ended with a score of 6-3, 6-4, marking a significant upset in the tournament.
Potapova, who had been a runner-up in Linz and a semifinalist in Madrid earlier this season, played aggressively from the baseline. She broke Gauff's serve three times and saved all four break points she faced.
Gauff, the world No. 3 and 2024 champion, struggled with her first-serve percentage, which fell to 52%. She also committed 28 unforced errors, compared to Potapova's 15.
In her post-match interview, Potapova said, 'I knew I had to play my best tennis to beat Coco. I focused on every point and stayed calm.' The win advances Potapova to the fourth round, where she will face either Iga Swiatek or Marketa Vondrousova.
