On a sunlit afternoon at Roland Garros on May 29, 2025, Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis sensation and world No. 2, delivered a masterclass on Court Philippe-Chatrier, defeating 18-year-old Czech qualifier Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the third round of the French Open. The clash, a meeting of the 2018 and 2024 French Open junior champions, showcased Gauff’s experience and composure as she outmaneuvered the promising teenager in a 75-minute battle. With this victory, Gauff continues her quest for a first singles title in Paris, where she reached the final in 2022 and won the doubles crown in 2024. “It’s very cool to be in the same stat line as these great legends,” Gauff said, reflecting on her growing legacy at Roland Garros, where her 12 wins in 13 matches against younger opponents underline her dominance.
The match began with Gauff asserting her authority early, leveraging her speed and court coverage to dictate rallies. Valentova, ranked No. 172 and fresh off a first-round upset over Chloe Paquet, struggled with nerves, dropping her serve three times in the opening set. Gauff’s strategy was clear: use her athleticism to extend rallies, luring Valentova into overhitting. “I was trying to be more aggressive,” Gauff noted, a tactic honed under her new coach, Matt Daly, who has refined her serve and forehand since September 2024. The first set was a brisk 6-2 affair, with Gauff converting break points with precision, including a set-clinching break that showcased her ability to exploit errors.
The second set proved more competitive, with Valentova finding her rhythm and twice breaking Gauff’s serve to take leads. The Czech, who swept the girls’ singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros in 2024, displayed flashes of brilliance, challenging Gauff with aggressive shot-making. “She was playing really well and hitting a lot of winners – which I’m not used to,” Gauff admitted, acknowledging Valentova’s fight. At 5-3, Gauff had a chance to serve out the match, but Valentova, fueled by the crowd’s energy, broke back in a stunning display of resilience. Undeterred, Gauff regrouped, breaking Valentova in the 10th game to seal the 6-4 set and avoid a third-set drama. Her ability to stay composed under pressure echoed her 2024 quarter-final comeback against Ons Jabeur, where she rallied from a set down to reach the semi-finals.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a testament to her growth. After reaching finals in Madrid and Rome, she arrived in Paris as a top contender, having won the WTA Finals in Riyadh and titles in Auckland and Beijing. Her clay-court pedigree, with 19 singles wins at Roland Garros before age 21—second only to Iga Swiatek among active players—makes her a formidable force. “I’m lucky to have trained on clay since I was 10, which is not common for Americans,” Gauff said, crediting her comfort on the surface. Her 2024 doubles triumph with Katerina Siniakova, where she kissed the Coupe Simonne Mathieu, fuels her ambition for a singles crown. “Third time’s a charm,” she said then, a sentiment that carries into her 2025 campaign.
Valentova, despite the loss, showed why she’s a rising star. Her qualifying run and first-round win marked her as a player to watch, but Gauff’s experience—bolstered by her 2023 US Open title and nine WTA singles trophies—proved decisive. The match, one of 10 service breaks in the second set, highlighted Gauff’s ability to adapt, a skill refined since her 2022 French Open final loss to Swiatek. Now, Gauff faces Marie Bouzkova, who also advanced in straight sets, in a third-round test that could set up a quarter-final clash with Jelena Ostapenko or Ons Jabeur.
As Gauff navigates a draw that includes Swiatek, the four-time champion she’s faced 12 times (winning once), her focus remains sharp. “I think long-term I feel like it’s definitely something [I can change],” she said of her head-to-head with Swiatek, signaling her determination to close the gap. With her New Balance-clad feet gliding across the clay and a career-high No. 2 ranking, Gauff’s Parisian journey is a blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned resolve, making her a fan favorite and a serious threat for the title.
# Coco Gauff Outshines Tereza Valentova to Reach French Open Third Round
## Match Overview
On May 29, 2025, Coco Gauff, the world No. 2, defeated 2024 French Open junior champion Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4 in 75 minutes to advance to the third round at Roland Garros. The match, a clash of the 2018 and 2024 junior champions, saw Gauff use her speed to force errors, converting three breaks in the first set. “I was trying to be more aggressive,” Gauff said, noting Valentova’s strong play. “She was playing really well and hitting a lot of winners – which I’m not used to.”
## Second Set Battle
Valentova, ranked No. 172, rallied in the second set, breaking Gauff twice to lead. Gauff nearly closed the match at 5-3 but Valentova broke back. “It’s very cool to be in the same stat line as these great legends,” Gauff said of her Roland Garros record. She sealed the win with a break in the 10th game, showcasing resilience seen in her 2024 Ons Jabeur comeback.
## Gauff’s Clay Pedigree
Gauff’s 19 Roland Garros wins before age 21 trail only Iga Swiatek among active players. “I’m lucky to have trained on clay since I was 10,” she said. Her 2025 season, with finals in Madrid and Rome, and a 2024 doubles title in Paris, positions her as a title contender. Her 12-1 record against younger opponents, with Valentova as her latest, underscores her dominance.
## Next Steps
Gauff faces Marie Bouzkova in the third round, with a potential Jelena Ostapenko or Ons Jabeur clash looming. Her lone win over Swiatek, a 2023 Cincinnati upset, fuels hope of reversing their 1-11 head-to-head. “I think long-term I feel like it’s definitely something [I can change],” Gauff said, eyeing a deep run and a first French Open singles title.
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