Gauff battles past Keys to reach semi-finals

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app

World number two Coco Gauff overcame a scrappy start to beat fellow American Madison Keys and reach the semi-finals of the French Open.

Gauff won 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-1 under the roof on Court Phillippe Chatrier to reach her third semi-final at Roland Garros.

Both players were well below their best but Gauff eventually found her rhythm late in the second set and kicked on to dominate in the third.

"It wasn't an easy match and I'm very happy to get through it," said Gauff, 21.

"She is obviously a very great player and her forehand is probably one of the best, if not the best, on tour.

"Honestly I knew that I just had to be able to run today. As soon as the ball came short, I knew I had to punish her for it."

Gauff, who won the French Open doubles title alongside Czech Katerina Siniakova in 2024, will face either Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva or French wildcard and world number 361 Lois Boisson.

Gauff has fared well on clay so far this year, reaching back-to-back finals in Madrid and Rome where she missed out on the titles to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively.

A nervy start saw Gauff and Keys trade early breaks but Keys settled quickly as her rival continued to flounder, opening up a 4-1 lead.

To Gauff's credit, she fought her way back into proceedings and held set point, but Australian Open champion Keys came through in the tie-break.

Unforced errors started to creep into Keys' game during the second set and she quickly found herself on the backfoot at a double break down.

But just as Gauff had in the first set, Keys cancelled out the advantage, only for her opponent to level the match with another break and a hold.

Gauff had conceded nine double faults across the opening two sets but it was Keys who finished the match with 60 unforced errors off her racquet, compared to Gauff's 41.

That ultimately proved to be the difference as Gauff, having finally found her serve, raced through the deciding set.

It is the third time Gauff has beaten Keys in six meetings and marked the first time she has beaten the 30-year-old on clay.

Gauff has lost to the eventual winner on each of her last four appearances at the French Open and if she can get through the semi-finals will face either defending champion Iga Swiatek or world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final.