One more in the USA squad, Coco Gauff, who is ranked second, has achieved the 2025 French Open third round by an exacting 6-2, 6-4 victory over 18-year-old Tereza Valentova, a talented player from the Czech Republic, on Thursday.
Another serving marathon of the teenager despite not finding the spot—the 21-year old US player was still able to handle it. Her mobility and regular performance from the line were enough for Gauff to oust her opponent for 75 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The encounter was painful with all the mistakes seen, especially those of Valentova, who was left behind with 33 unforced errors that determined Gauff as the winner of the match.
2019 Wimbledon and 2021 Australian Open doubles champion Gauff, who’s been a Roland Garros finalist, took advantage of crucial moments in each set. Through the second set, reducing the score from 2-3 to 5-3 was the turning point, and the match was soon over as the American held her serve immediately after it.
“It was quite a word, ‘good’. Maybe a bit more on the offensive side in terms of serving could have worked, and not that the returning was not okay,” Gauff confirmed her opinion post the match.
Valentova, who only a short time ago had both girls’ singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros, was having her good moments but unable to keep up with the second-ranked player in the world.
Gauff is pitted against Marie Bouzkova, who is 47th in the world, in the round of 32. Gauff will remain in contention for her first French Open victory.
