All-American French Open quarterfinal promises fireworks

World No. 2 Coco Gauff will face No. 8 Madison Keys in an All-American French Open quarterfinal on Wednesday.

The match marks the first time two American women will clash in the final eight of a clay-court major since the 2022 French Open, where Gauff defeated Sloane Stephens en route to the final.

While Gauff has yet to drop a set in the tournament, Keys has mostly coasted, save for a three-setter against Sofia Kenin in the third round. Gauff, 21, is the logical favorite against the journeywoman Keys, 30, but the latter may be the sentimental favorite. 

Keys, who nearly retired in 2024, is enjoying a late career resurgence that began with her first career major at the 2025 Australian Open win, followed by deep runs at Indian Wells and Madrid. On an 11-match winning streak at majors, she's one win shy of her first French Open semifinal appearance since 2019.

If Keys can upset Gauff and prevail in Saturday's final, she'd become the sixth woman in the Open Era to win the Australian and French Open in the same year. Only Margaret Court, Stefanie Graf, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams have achieved the rare feat.

As for Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open winner has been erratic on other surfaces in recent years, but a model of consistency on clay. She carried good form into the French Open, having reached consecutive clay-court WTA 1000 finals in Rome and Madrid, following a semi-final loss at last year's Roland Garros. As such, she enters the match the rightful favorite despite Keys owning a career 3-2 head-to-head advantage.

“I think Coco is obviously pretty dominant on clay," Keys said ahead of the match, via USTA. "I would say it's probably her best surface to play on. It's obviously a big challenge. I think for me it's going to be a lot about trying to balance going after things, but knowing with her ability to cover the court. You're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over."

The winner will face either teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva or 22-year-old Lois Boisson in the semifinal. Fortunately for the Americans, they won't have to see World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or four-time winner Iga Swiatek before a potential final on Saturday.

Gauff versus Keys is scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. local time in Paris on Wednesday (5 a.m. ET).