French Open 2023: Coco Gauff navigates ‘tricky’ Julia Grabher test to book place in round three

Coco Gauff is into round three of the French Open after overcoming the unseeded Julia Grabher 6-2 6-3.

Despite the scoreline, Gauff didn’t have things all her own way in what was at times a scrappy affair, but ultimately, her class shone through.

“She’s a tricky player”, Gauff admitted afterwards. “I played her on hard court earlier this year and she gets a lot of height on her balls.

“Sometimes you don’t know what to expect so I just wanted to make sure I played my game.”

An auspicious start saw the American save two break points in her opening service game, but a comfortable hold soon after was followed by a break to take advantage of the set.

The sixth seed didn’t take long to grow into the game and her forehand proved too strong for Grabher as she secured a double break.

Gauff had the chance to serve out the set but her opponent rallied and broke back to stay in contention.

But a series of errors from the Austrian on serve gifted the opener to Gauff in under 33 minutes.

As Gauff raced into a 40-15 lead at the start of the second, she looked in total control but allowed to game to slip and was broken by her opponent as she sent a forehand into the net.

Grabher couldn’t capitalise however and was broken to love immediately.

Neither player was able to find their rhythm as Gauff was broken again straight away, again to love, only to break back in a bizarre sequence where none of the first four games of the set went with serve.

The American was able to stop the rot and held before seizing the advantage with another break as she began to find her feet.

Another hold forced Grabher to serve to stay in the match which she duly did before Gauff was able to close out the win.

Victory sets up a clash with 16-year-old starlet Mirra Andreeva in round three, following the Russian’s victory over Diane Parry earlier in the day.

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