French Open: Teenager Gauff books semi-final with straight sets win over Stephens

American teenager Coco Gauff powered past compatriot Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-2 on Tuesday to book a French Open semi-final spot in her biggest victory at a Grand Slam.
The 18-year-old, the youngest player left in the draw who was hit a brief spell of nerves late in the game, will next play Italy’s Martina Trevisan for a place in Saturday’s final.
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“I feel so happy right now. Words can’t explain it. Last year in the quarters was a tough loss and that made me stronger for moments like today,” 18th seed Gauff said after reaching her first semi-final at a major.Best of Express PremiumPremiumPremiumPremiumPremium

🇺🇸 No.18 @CocoGauff won a place in the semi-finals beating Sloane Stephens — now it’s time for her third round doubles match!
Follow along with all of Day 10 Live:#RolandGarros
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2022
“Last time I played her (Stephens) I lost so I am happy it went differently today. I think it was a mental challenge today.”
Gauff, the youngest female player to reach multiple Grand Slam quarter-finals since 2007 after also reaching the French Open last eight in 2021, stormed to a 3-0 lead in a one-sided start to the all-American encounter.
With Gauff forcing the 29-year-old Stephens to the net with a string of well-executed drop shots and holding serve confidently, she cruised to a 5-2 lead.

First Grand Slam SF coming 🆙
The No.18 seed prevails over 2018 final Sloane Stephens 7-5, 6-2.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/l9bDk1SI5P
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2022
Stephens, U.S. Open champion in 2017 and final in Paris a year later, battled to get the breaks back and levelled at 5-5.Gauff, who has not dropped a set in her run to last four, recovered just in time to win eight of the next nine points and bag the opening set.
Another break put her 3-1 up in the second but the teenager showed nerves when she doubled-faulted twice in the next game to give Stephens three break chances.

However, she wasted them all, including an easy volley to allow her opponent to go 4-1 up.While Stephens may rue her missed chances throughout the match, Gauff managed to return almost everything her opponent threw at her.
Another lengthy rally ended with Stephens sinking a forehand into the net and Gauff going 5-1 up.
Instead of serving out the match she double faulted twice again to give her opponent a brief reprieve before winning it on Stephens’ serve in the very next game.