Coco Gauff progresses to French Open second round in three-set win

Gauff and running! US sensation Coco moves into the second round of the French Open after pushing past Rebeka Masarova and her own frustration in three sets

  • The 2022 French Open Finalist was pushed by world No. 71 Rebeka Masarova 
  • Gauff will next play on Thursday vs. Julia Grabher in the second round in Paris 
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

Coco Gauff survived a first-round scare at the French Open after the American came from a set down to beat world No. 71 Rebeka Masarova.

Gauff, who was a finalist here last year, made a string of unforced errors in a disappointing first set and voiced her frustration with groans of anger.

But the 19-year-old rallied to beat her Spanish opponent 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in just under two hours on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Sporting some specialized ‘Twisted Net’ New Balance trainers, Gauff won from a set down for the first time since Wimbledon last year against Elena Ruse.

She dealt well with the powerful and aggressive game of Masarova, the 23-year-old who took just two games from Gauff in a 6-1, 6-1 defeat in the final of the WTA Auckland event in January.

The sixth seed defeated the 23-year-old Spaniard in three sets; 3-6, 6-1, 6-2  Tuesday afternoon

Coco Gauff pushed through frustration and a considerable challenge from Rebeka Masarova

After initially frustrating the American, Masarova could not keep the pace in the final sets

Breaking from her usual mild-mannered straight face on court, Gauff seemed very fired up in the third set and did not apologize for smashing a ball towards Masarova, a powerful shot which made the Spaniard scream.

Gauff continued to roar in celebration at won points and saw out a pleasing win.

Her reward for moving past Masarova is a second round matchup vs. Austria’s Julia Grabher Thursday.  

It continued a good afternoon at Roland Garros for Americans. Tommy Paul beat Swiss Dominic Stricker 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. 

JJ Wolf, though, fell in five sets to Yoshihito Nishioka despite taking a two-set lead.

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