Teenager Coco Gauff will face former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in a pivotal French Open quarter-final on Tuesday, seeking her first Grand Slam semi-final berth. The 18-year-old, who lost to Barbora Krejcikova in last year's tournament, enters the match with a renewed focus after a breakthrough 2021 US Open campaign.
Multiple American players have advanced to the women's quarter-finals over the past five years, yet no U.S. player has claimed the title since Serena Williams' 2015 victory. World number one Iga Swiatek remains the dominant force, but Gauff believes the draw's unpredictability offers opportunities for underdogs.
"Anybody can win," Gauff asserted, referencing Emma Raducanu's 2021 US Open triumph as evidence of the tournament's volatility. She emphasized the need to disregard rankings in Grand Slam competitions, noting that top-seeded players have fallen early in this year's event.
This will be their second meeting since last year's all-American clash at Flushing Meadows, where Gauff admitted nervousness despite facing a familiar opponent. Stephens, aiming to reach a major semi-final for the first time since her 2018 French Open final appearance, acknowledges the challenge of facing a rising American star.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez continues her run as an unseeded contender, having become the youngest player to defeat three top-five seeds at a Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 1999. The Canadian remains focused on proving herself despite her current third-seed status.
Italian Martina Trevisan, who reached the last eight in 2020 as a qualifier, is also in form after winning her maiden WTA title last week. The 28-year-old expressed excitement about repeating her Paris success, stating, "I’m here, so I’m really happy."
