It means one of Potapova, Kalinskaya, Parry or Poland’s Maja Chwalinska are guaranteed to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros – with none of them ever having previously made the quarter-finals in Paris.
After losing her opening service game, Gauff saved two more break points at 4-2 down before fighting back to win the next four games to clinch the first set against Potapova.
The momentum swung at the start of the second set with Potapova’s deep groundstrokes causing problems for the defending champion as she opened up a double break.
At 5-2 down, Gauff saved two set points before clawing her way back to level at 5-5, but lost the tie-break as unforced errors and double faults punctuated her game.
As the third set wore on, Potapova’s superb defence forced Gauff into more mistakes as her deep looping forehand extended the points, and the Austrian’s persistence paid off as she secured the decisive break to win the match.
“I feel like I’m practicing well, and when the moments get there, I’m not quite translating that. I do it at times, and then I also don’t do it,” Gauff said.
“It’s one thing to lose, but I think today I didn’t – I mean, I competed, I fought my hardest, but I don’t think I played the way I wanted to in the crucial moments.
“I think that’s maybe the issue too that when I see the momentum is on my side, I should keep putting my foot on the gas instead of maybe letting up a little bit, and I think that’s what I did.”
