Portugal Colonial - Gauff returns to French Open quarters, vows to 'keep fighting'

Gauff raced through the opening set backed by three breaks of serve. Alexandrova put up more of a fight in the second set but Gauff eventually closed out victory in 82 minutes.

"It feels great to be back in the quarters here, and really happy with how I played today and hopefully can keep going," said Gauff.

The 21-year-old Gauff will play reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys in an all-American quarter-final on Wednesday.

Gauff's 15 wins on clay this year are tied for the most alongside Elina Svitolina, another player still in the running at Roland Garros.

Former US Open champion Gauff puts her success on the surface down to her unwavering belief that she can turn a match in her favour no matter the score.

She is hoping to make it third time lucky at the French Open after losing in the final in Madrid and Rome last month.

"I have learned in the last two tournaments, especially in Rome and Madrid, losing the opening set in the first round of both of those tournaments and making the final, it just shows you have to keep fighting for every match and keep fighting for every point," said Gauff.

"Because anything can happen in a tournament.

"So I think if I want to be more consistent on tour, I think that's something I have to continue to do."

Gauff made her first Grand Slam final in Paris in 2022 at the age of just 18.

She was beaten comfortably by Iga Swiatek on that occasion but feels she is peaking at the right time again in her quest for a second major title.

Swiatek has also knocked Gauff out each of the past two years at Roland Garros; in the quarter-finals in 2023 and then in the semi-finals a year ago.

"I think I'm less nervous going into matches, for sure, and knowing just the ups and downs of tennis and of a tennis match," said Gauff.

"I still feel the years here I feel like I get better with each match. I felt like that was something that I did in '22 and last year as well, and something I'm doing here right now.

"Yeah, I think if I can keep just making those details a little bit better, hopefully I can do even better than I did last year."

V.Fontes--PC