Coco Gauff lost to Anastasia Potapova at the French Open on May 30, 2026. The defending champion was stunned in a three-set upset.

What happened?

Potapova won the match 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, taking a 2-0 lead to open the first set and forcing Gauff into 31 mishits.

Why it matters for Coco Gauff

Gauff's loss means she'll drop out of the top 5 in the WTA rankings for the first time since September 2024. She had entered the French Open as a favorite to win again.

What comes next?

Potapova will face 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round on June 1. Gauff will look to rebound from her earliest exit at the clay-court grand slam since 2020.

Gauff served up only three double faults to Potapova's eight, but failed to maintain the momentum that would push her to rally in matches previously. The crowd was not as loud as it usually is at Court Philippe-Chatrier, partly because the Parisian fans were watching Paris Saint-Germain play Arsenal in the Champions League final soccer match.

Potapova's stout defense and strong backhand forced Gauff into unforced errors. The Russian/Austrian showed the most ability to hold off the runs of the other, taking a 2-0 lead to open the first set and going up 3-0 in the second.

Gauff had won the first set 6-4, but Potapova took 7 of 8 points to force the decisive third set. The Florida star double-faulted to lose her lead in the game, and Potapova ripped a shot at the net into the open court on a mighty backhand.

Gauff sailed a return well wide on the next return, and Potapova dropped to the clay to celebrate her upset win. Anastasia Potapova said after her win that it was a top-three victory in her career.

Coco Gauff is stuck at two grand slam victories, beating Aryna Sabalenka in both the 2023 U.S. Open and the 2025 French Open finals. She will look to rebound from this loss and prepare for her next tournament.

The loss is a setback for Gauff, who had been playing well coming into the French Open. She will look to regroup and come back stronger in her next match.

Potapova was seen tenderly holding an ice bag on her right forearm after beating Coco Gauff. She said she was dealing with some cramping but that she would be all right.

The French Open will continue without Coco Gauff, who had been a favorite to win the tournament. The women's draw will be interesting to watch, with several top players still competing.

Gauff's exit from the French Open is a surprise, given her recent form. She will look to bounce back from this loss and prepare for the next grand slam tournament.

The WTA rankings will be updated after the French Open, with Gauff dropping out of the top 5. She will look to climb back up the rankings with a strong performance in her next tournament.

Coco Gauff's fans will be disappointed by her loss, but they will be hoping she can bounce back and win her next tournament. She has the talent and the determination to succeed at the highest level.

The French Open has been full of surprises, with several top players losing early in the tournament. Coco Gauff's loss is just one of many upsets that have occurred so far.

Gauff's loss to Potapova is a reminder that anything can happen in tennis. The sport is unpredictable, and upsets can occur at any time.

The tennis world will be watching to see how Coco Gauff responds to this loss. She has the potential to be one of the best players in the world, and her fans will be hoping she can achieve her goals.

Coco Gauff will look to learn from her loss and use it as motivation to improve her game. She will be working hard to prepare for her next tournament and come back stronger than ever.

The future is bright for Coco Gauff, despite this setback. She has the talent and the dedication to succeed at the highest level, and her fans will be hoping she can achieve great things in the years to come.