American teenager Coco Gauff says her recent high-school graduation was tougher than reaching the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time.
The 18-year-old swept into the Roland Garros last four with a 7-5 6-2 win over fellow American Sloane Stephens.
Gauff combined her studies with competing on the WTA Tour and graduated before the tournament started.
She said: "Was graduating tougher? Yes because I know how hard it was to do school and play tennis on the road."
Gauff, who made her debut on the WTA Tour aged 14, added: "Other players in general get out of sight with life and we think tennis is the most important thing in the world.