French Open 2026: Defending champion Coco Gauff stunned by Anastasia Potapova in third round as top seeds continue to fall

The defending champion falls

Coco Gauff, the world number four and defending Roland Garros champion, was eliminated in the third round on Saturday by Anastasia Potapova, the world number 30. Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, won the match 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 in 2 hours and 37 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The match was played before mostly empty stands as French fans stayed away to watch the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

She was able to finish the points and I wasn't. Just not capitalising on certain shots.

Gauff is the third top-five player to exit the tournament, following her compatriot Jessica Pegula, who lost in the first round, and world number two Elena Rybakina. The men's draw has also seen major upsets, with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic eliminated earlier in the week.

Potapova's career-defining victory

Potapova, seeded 28th, has been one of the form players of the spring, reaching a final in Linz and the semi-finals of the Madrid Open as a qualifier. She almost dropped out of the top 100 three months ago but arrived in Paris with momentum. The 25-year-old improved her career record against Gauff to 3-2 and matched her best Grand Slam result, having also reached the fourth round in Paris in 2024.

I have no words. I'm extremely proud of myself, of the fact that I continued to fight after losing the first set.

Potapova will face Russia's Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka and Osaka set for blockbuster clash

World number one Aryna Sabalenka avoided the fate of other top seeds, defeating Australia's Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5. She remains yet to drop a set in the tournament. Sabalenka will face former world number one Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Osaka, the 16th seed, survived a close battle against American teenager Iva Jovic, winning 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4.

I'm ready to do whatever it takes to win.

This will be their fourth meeting. Osaka won their first encounter in 2018 at the US Open, but Sabalenka has won the last two, including a close match on clay in Madrid last month.

Anisimova and Kouame also exit

Sixth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova was also eliminated on Saturday, losing to France's Diane Parry 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (10/3). Anisimova, who was dealing with a physical issue, held a 5-4 lead in the final set but could not close out the match. Parry, ranked 92nd, is the only French player remaining in the last 16 of either singles draw.

It was really tough for me, because it was really hot, and I'm not feeling my best physically.

In the men's draw, 17-year-old French wildcard Moise Kouame's run ended in the third round against Chile's Alejandro Tabilo, who won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11/9). Kouame saved four match points in the fourth-set tiebreak before falling.

A tournament of upsets

The women's draw has been decimated, with Gauff, Pegula, and Rybakina all out. Iga Swiatek remains the only former champion left in the women's draw. The men's side has been equally shaken by the eliminations of Sinner and Djokovic. The series of upsets has left the tournament wide open as it heads into the second week.