Coco Gauff, Martina Trevisan reach first major semis at Roland Garros

PARIS: Coco Gauff prevailed in an all-American showdown on Tuesday at Roland Garros, defeating 2018 French Open finalist Sloane Stephens 7-5, 6-2 to reach the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career.

Martina Trevisan also reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros with a three-set win over Leylah Fernandez.

The 18-year-old Gauff needed 90 minutes to oust 2017 US Open champion Stephens. Gauff's victory avenged her straight-sets loss to Stephens in their only previous meeting, at last year's US Open.

Gauff has yet to drop a set in the tournament, and indeed has not been pushed beyond an hour and a half in each of her five wins this fortnight.

Gauff will face Trevisan on Thursday for a spot in the Roland Garros final.

The 28-year-old Trevisan defeated No.17 seed Canadian Fernandez of 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3 in 2 hours and 21 minutes and extended her winning streak to 10 matches.

The Italian bounced back after failing to convert a match point serving at 5-4 in the second set to seal her third career Top 20 victory and extend her winning streak to 10 matches. Just over a week ago, 28-year-old Trevisan captured her first Hologic WTA Tour title in Rabat, upsetting Garbine Muguruza en route.

Having spent four years sidelined from the sport as she battled anorexia in her early career, Trevisan's resurgence over the past two-and-a-half weeks has seen her bring her best form to the biggest stage once again. She becomes the third Italian woman to reach the Roland Garros semifinals in the Open Era, following 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone and 2012 finalist Sara Errani. 

In the first Grand Slam quarterfinal between left-handers since Lucie Safarova beat Ekaterina Makarova at Wimbledon 2014, it was Trevisan's weaponry that proved most effective and most reliable.

Her forehand has been the signature shot of her winning streak, and as soon as she had any extra time to set up on it, she was able to pummel it in any direction to end the point. It was Trevisan's versatility and weight of shot that invariably got the upper hand.

Consequently, Trevisan found 43 winners to Fernandez's 29, while keeping her unforced error tally to 29 compared to Fernandez's 44. Agencies

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