- Gauff dropped a set for the first time in the French Open this year to Jabeur
- However, she impressively came back to seal a place in the semi-final
- She could be on course for another match against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros
Coco Gauff recovered from a set down to beat Tunisian opponent Ons Jabeuer to reach the semi-finals of the French Open.
The 2023 US Open champion dropped a set for the first time in the competition against the World No 8, as she gave herself a difficult task at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
After going down 6-4 in the first set, the World No 3 fought back strongly in the second losing just two games.
Gauff would then go on to claim the third set to reach the semi-finals – the third consecutive time she has done so at a Grand Slam tournament.
After beating Aryna Sabalenka to win the US Open last October, she was then knocked out of the semi-finals by the Belarus star at the Australian Open.
Coco Gauff came from behind to see off Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals of the French Open
Gauff dropped a set for the first time in this year’s tournament before beating Jabeur
She could be on course for a rematch with Iga Swiatek, who beat her in the final at Roland Garros in 2022, and then at the quarter-final stage a year later
Gauff could be on course for another match with Iga Swiatek at the French Open.
She lost to the World No 1 in the final back in 2022, and then again at the quarter-final stage a year later.
This year they could play in the semi-finals, if Swiatek can see off Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.
After her own win, Gauff praised Jabeuer, who reached the final at Wimbledon last year.
She said: ‘Ons is a tough opponent and well loved on tour, I can tell you guys wanted her to win, and when I’m watching her I want her to win too.
‘I love playing in this atmosphere. I was just thinking, ‘this is really fun, win or lose’. I have a lot of love here in Paris too and I really appreciate it.
‘I was trying to be more aggressive, she was playing really well the whole match, hitting a lot of winners. I got a little bit tight but I did what I needed to do to win the match.’
Gauff saved two set points on her own serve in the first set before Jabeur finished the job with the ball in her hand, hammering down an ace to clinch it.
Gauff has now reached three semi-finals in a row, including her US Open success last year
Gauff saw off her Tunisian opponent in Paris 4-6 6-2 6-3 in an hour and 57 minutes
Jabeur retrieved an early break in the second but Gauff hit straight back when the Tunisian drilled a forehand wide.
The balance of power had shifted when Jabeur, the eighth seed, dunked a forehand into the net to hand Gauff the double break and the second set.
Gauff broke and then held for 4-1 in the decider, Jabeur had won just two of 11 games.
The Tunisian flags on Court Philippe Chatrier fluttered briefly when she managed a solid hold to love and then moved to 0-30 with a spectacular leaping forehand winner.
But the fightback was quickly snuffed out as 20-year-old Gauff, the runner-up in Paris two years ago, registered a 4-6 6-2 6-3 victory in an hour and 57 minutes.