"I lost the same way in Rome": Coco Gauff sees Roland Garros title defense ended by Anastasia Potapova

First went Elena Rybakina. Then Jannik Sinner. Novak Djokovic followed suit.

And now Coco Gauff.

The reigning Roland Garros champion was the latest Grand Slam title holder to be eliminated in the first week of the clay-court major, ousted Saturday at the hands of Anastasia Potapova. Gauff led the final set 3-1, but Potapova battled back—later saving a pair of break points at 3-3.

“Missed I think two backhands or three backhands, which just can't happen in that scenario,” Gauff told press. “I feel like I'm practicing well, and when the moments get there, I'm not quite translating that.”

The No. 28 seed clinched the 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory when her fourth-seeded opponent mistimed a shot on the baseline to end the third-round contest after two hours and 37 minutes.

From Gauff's side, the loss mirrored her defeats leading into Paris.

“I feel like I lost the same way in Rome as I did here, which is not good, I think. You never want to lose the same way back-to-back times, and I did. I feel like also in Madrid, it was a similar thing, losing the same way,” she said.

“I competed, I fought my hardest, but I don't think I played the way I wanted to in the crucial moments.”

Potapova, who switched to representing Austria at the start of this season, advances to face Anna Kalinskaya. The 25-year-old is bidding to reach the final eight of a major for the first time on the back of her second Top 5 win on clay this spring, having knocked off Elena Rybakina in Madrid.

Earlier on Court Philippe Chatrier, Diane Parry knocked out sixth seed Amanda Anisimova with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10-3) victory.