Defending champion Coco Gauff was eliminated from the 2026 French Open on Saturday after a third-round loss to Anastasia Potapova [1, 2, 3].
The defeat marks a significant shift in the tournament bracket, removing the reigning champion and one of the top favorites from contention early in the event.
The match took place on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, where the No. 4 seed Gauff faced the No. 28 seed Potapova [1, 3]. Gauff initially held the advantage, winning the first set 6-4 [1]. However, Potapova managed to shift the momentum of the match during the second set.
Potapova secured the second set in a tiebreak, winning it 7-6 (7-1) [1]. The match then moved into a deciding third set, which Potapova won 6-4 [1]. This comeback victory ensured the upset, ending Gauff's title defense in the third round [2].
The loss is a rare early exit for Gauff at Roland-Garros, where she entered the tournament as the defending champion [1, 2]. Potapova's victory highlights a volatile opening week for the seeded players at the 2026 event.
Throughout the match, Potapova's ability to fight back from a set deficit proved decisive. The result sends the No. 28 seed deeper into the tournament while leaving the women's draw without its top defender.
“Defending champion Coco Gauff was eliminated from the 2026 French Open on Saturday.”
Gauff's early exit creates a power vacuum in the women's draw, increasing the path to the title for other top seeds. For Potapova, the victory over a defending champion and No. 4 seed serves as a major career milestone and establishes her as a dangerous underdog in the subsequent rounds of the 2026 French Open.
