Gauff quietly reaches the last 16 at Roland Garros

For some weeks now, the spotlight has not really been on Coco Gauff. Faced with Iga Swiatek's ever-increasing dominance and the results of Rybakina and Sabalenka, the young American has been somewhat excluded from the debate. Indeed, there is frequent talk of a "big three" from which she is always ousted. Perhaps it's time to reconsider this choice. After all, Gauff isn't just anyone. Last year's US Open champion, she reached the semi-finals in Rome, beaten only by Swiatek (6-4, 6-3).

Having arrived in Rome full of ambitions, the world No.3 is making very steady progress. After calm victories over two qualifiers (6-1, 6-1 over Avdeeva and 6-3, 6-4 over Zidanesk), she responded very favorably to her first test of the fortnight on Friday. Up against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska (ranked 32nd), the 20-year-old didn't need to exert herself too much. Despite an astonishing failure of serve (46% first ball), she did the essential to qualify in just over 1h30 (6-2, 6-4).

Qualified for the second week, she will face Elisabetta Cocciaretto (51st), who beat Samsonova (7-6, 6-2), for a place in the quarter-finals.