PARIS: Coco Gauff became the youngest Grand Slam quarter-finalist in 15 years on Monday when she defeated Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur at the French Open.
Gauff, seeded 24, swept to a 53-minute 6-3, 6-1 win and took on Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic for a place in the semi-finals.
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 quarter-finals 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 quarter-final. 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.