Coco Gauff only needed two sets to overcome Tereza Valentova in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
The American star defeated her Czech challenger, 6-2, 6-4, at Court Suzanne Lenglen to advance to the third round. Gauff will face another Czech player in Marie Bouzková on Saturday.
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Thursday’s match was a meeting of the 2018 and 2024 French Open junior champions. However, Gauff’s slight age and experience edge allowed her to sweep her 18-year-old opponent.
Gauff, 21, used speed to lure Velentova into ending long rallies by overhitting. The game plan paid off as the second-seeded Gauff won the first set with three service breaks, including one to secure the set point.
In the second set, Gauff and Velentova tallied 10 service breaks before Gauff broke through for the win.
The win means Gauff has been victorious in 12 of 13 matches against younger opponents. Gauff’s only defeat to a younger player was against Diana Shnaider in the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto last August.
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Gauff has yet to reach a third set in the French Open this year — beating Olivia Gadecki before Valentova. Like her, Gauff’s next opponent, Bouzková, overcame her previous two opponents, Anna Kalinskaya and Sonay Kartal in two sets.
Elsewhere on the women’s side of the tournament, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula advanced with a two-set win over fellow American Ann Li, and No. 7 seed Madison Keys advanced in two sets against Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.
