Coco Gauff becomes youngest Grand Slam quarterfinalist in 15 years
U.S. teenage tennis sensation Coco Gauff celebrates after winning her French Open fourth-round match against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, at the Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 7, 2021. (Reuters Photo)


Teenage tennis sensation Coco Gauff defeated Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in the French Open on Monday to become the youngest Grand Slam quarterfinalist in 15 years.

Gauff, seeded 24, swept to a 53-minute 6-3, 6-1 win and takes on Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic for a place in the semifinals.

At the age of 17 years and 86 days, Gauff is the youngest woman to reach the last eight of a Slam since Nicole Vaidisova who made the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2006 aged 17 years and 44 days.

She is also the youngest American woman to book a place in the last eight in Paris since Jennifer Capriati in 1993.

In a composed performance on Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday, the American teenager broke her fellow former junior champion three times without facing a break point herself.

"I am super happy to reach my first Grand Slam quarterfinal. I played really well today," said Gauff who has yet to drop a set at the tournament.

Gauff came into the French Open on the back of a clay-court title in Parma.

"Parma taught me how to close out matches and how to deal with pressure," added the American who also discovered Monday that she had claimed a place on the American team for the Tokyo Olympics.