Czech Barbora Krejcikova is into her first Grand Slam semi-final after seeing off American teenager Coco Gauff in a nervy French Open encounter yesterday.
Gauff, 17, let five set points slip as Krejcikova took the opener on a tie-break before sealing a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory on her sixth match point.
The 25-year-old eventually wrapped up an intriguing quarter-final battle in one hour and 50 minutes in Paris.
The world number 33 will face Polish defending champion Iga Swiatek or Greece’s Maria Sakkari for a place in the final at Roland Garros.
Eighth seed Swiatek is the highest ranked woman left in the draw.
Gauff made the perfect start to her first Grand Slam quarter-final, eventually seizing her fourth breakpoint in Krejcikova’s opening service game as she opened a 3-0 lead on Court Philippe Chatrier.
But Krejcikova, also appearing in her first major singles quarter-final, rallied impressively to claw back the deficit - surviving another breakpoint before holding to level at 3-3.
Gauff, junior champion in 2018, held firm under pressure on serve before breaking the Czech for a second time but her failure to take her first set point allowed Krejcikova a way back.
The American responded admirably, unleashing a powerful forehand winner on her way to a comfortable hold at 6-5, but Krejcikova rescued two more set points - one with a superb line shot - to set up a nervous tie-break.
Gauff battled back from 2-0 behind to set up her fourth set point at 6-4 before a steely Krejcikova once again dug in to win four successive points and take the opening set.
(BBC)
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